title: Complementary medicine use is not associated with non-adherence to conventional medication in the elderly: a retrospective study.
abstract: Lack of adherence to medications is a potential cause of hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality in the elderly. Medication adherence decreases with polypharmacy. Older persons commonly use complementary medicine, therefore complementary medicine use might pose an increase risk of loss of medication adherence with conventional medications, but this has not been previously investigated. A chart review was conducted of 300 patients at least sixty-five years of age who used at least three medications each who attended a university geriatrics clinic in Florida, USA to obtain information about medication adherence and complementary medicine use. However, no association was found between use of at least one complementary medicine and adherence to conventional medications.
authors: The Geriatrics Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service and Geriatric Research Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) of the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, FL 33125, USA. evan.cherniack@va.gov
authors: E Paul
authors: EP
authors: Cherniack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D055553:Prescription Drugs