title: Frequencies and prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine use among elderly patients in Taiwan: A population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicines, has been receiving increasing attention among elderly patients. However, epidemiological reports and prescription patterns of geriatric TCM users are few. The aim of this study is to use data from a nationwide cohort database to analyze TCM use by the geriatric population in Taiwan from 2005 to 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  TCM outpatient claims data was obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Data for elderly patients aged 65 years and older were included in the analysis during the study period. The demographic data, disease distributions, and frequencies and prescription patterns of TCM use by the geriatric population were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geriatric cohort included 97,210 patients, in which 46,883 patients (48%) had used TCM at least once, with a total of 723,478 TCM outpatient visits. Of these, 175,857 visits (24.3%) were prompted by "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue"; more than half of patients with such diseases were treated using acupuncture and traumatology manipulative therapies. Overall, among the 552,835 visits during which Chinese herbal products (CHP) were prescribed, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang and Dan Shen (Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae) were the most frequently prescribed herbal formula and single herb, respectively, for elderly patients. In addition, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xie-Tang was also the most prescribed herbal formula for the most common disease categories of "diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" among TCM elderly patients, followed by Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang, and Shao-Yao-Gan-Cao-Tang.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study elucidated the TCM utilization patterns of the geriatric population. However, additional studies are warranted to determine the safety and efficacy of these CHPs for use by elderly patients in further clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Rung
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hwey-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10055, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi 61363, Taiwan. Electronic address: lin645@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Yin-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Jujuboside A (PubChem CID: 171446); Miltirone ( PubChem CID: 160142); National Health Insurance Research Database; Salvianolic acid B (PubChem CID: 13991587); Tanshinone IIA (PubChem CID: 164676); Tetrahydropalmatine (PubChem CID: 72301); Traditional Chinese medicine; elderly