The use of an herbal formula by hospital care workers during the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Hong Kong to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome transmission, relieve influenza-related symptoms, and improve quality of life: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of an herbal formula in the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) transmission among health care workers. The secondary objectives are to investigate quality of life (QOL) and symptomology changes among supplement users, and to evaluate the safety of this formula.


METHODS
Controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Hong Kong during epidemic of SARS.


METHODS
Two cohorts of health care workers from 11 hospitals in Hong Kong, 1 using an herbal supplement for a 2-week period (n = 1063) and a control cohort comprising all other health care workers who did not receive the supplement (n = 36,111) were compared prospectively.


METHODS
Taking an herbal supplement for a 2-week period.


METHODS
SARS attack rates and changes in quality of life and influenza-like symptoms were also examined at three timepoints among herbal supplement users.


RESULTS
None of the health care workers who used the supplement subsequently contracted SARS compared to 0.4% of the health care workers who did not use the supplement (p = 0.014). Improvements in influenza-like symptoms and quality of life measurements were also observed among herbal supplement users. Less than 2% reported minor adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this pilot study suggest that there is a good potential of using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) supplements to prevent the spread of SARS.
Lau
Joseph T F
JT
Centre for Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Leung
P C
PC
Wong
E L Y
EL
Fong
C
C
Cheng
K F
KF
Zhang
S C
SC
Lam
C W K
CW
Wong
V
V
Choy
K M
KM
Ko
W M
WM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000517:prevention & control; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts