title: Complementary and alternative medicines in ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Prevalence of dietary complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and consultation with a CAM practitioner was examined in a cross-sectional study of 75 AS patients. Seventy one of 75 (94.7%) study participants reported previous or current CAM use. Among these AS patients, 44 (72.1%) reported dietary CAM use and 27 (36.0%) were seeing a CAM practitioner at the time of study. Of 89 dietary CAM, 50 (56.4%) were perceived to be of slight or no benefit, and only 10 (11.2%) were initiated by a CAM practitioner. Compared with non-users, current dietary CAM users were more likely to be female (OR 6.5; 95% CI, 1.8-23.9). Patients attending a CAM practitioner were more likely to have university education (OR 5.7; 95% CI, 1.5-21.9) and higher BASDAI (OR 1.3; 95%CI, 1.0-1.7). Despite low rates of perceived benefit, dietary CAM use and CAM practitioner attendance is common among AS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chatfield
authors.forename: Shyamali C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dharmage
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.forename: Belinda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Russell R C
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: Walter P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Maksymowych
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schachna
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000628:therapy*