title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of the potential risk of interaction with, and underuse of, conventional medications, it is important to document the prevalence of the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) in asthmatic children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the prevalence and type of CAMs, and to identify factors associated with their use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of children who presented to the Asthma Centre of The Montreal Children's Hospital (Montreal, Quebec) between 1999 and 2007 was conducted. At the initial consultation, parents completed a questionnaire inquiring, in part, about CAM use. Computerized health records provided information regarding patient characteristics and their condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the 2027 children surveyed was 6.1 years (interquartile range 3.3 to 10.5 years); 58% were male and 59% of children had persistent asthma. The prevalence of CAM use was 13% (95% CI 12% to 15%). Supplemental vitamins (24%), homeopathy (18%) and acupuncture (11%) were the most commonly reported CAMs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the association of CAM use with age younger than six years (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.96), Asian ethnicity (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.01 to 3.52), episodic asthma (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.08 to 3.28) and poor asthma control (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.80 to 3.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of reported CAM use among Quebec children with asthma remained modest (13%), with vitamins, homeopathy and acupuncture being the most popular modalities. CAM use was associated with preschool age, Asian ethnicity, episodic asthma and poor asthma control.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torres-Llenza
authors.forename: Sanjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhogal
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ducharme
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec
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