Traditional Chinese Medicine Decreases the Stroke Risk of Systemic Corticosteroid Treatment in Dermatitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.
Epidemiological studies have shown a strong association between dermatitis and stroke. Systemic corticosteroid, the mainstay treatment for dermatitis, could enhance the atherosclerotic process. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for dermatitis to decrease the side effects of corticosteroid. However, the different stroke risk in dermatitis patients treated with systemic corticosteroid or TCM remains unclear. This study identified 235,220 dermatitis patients and same comorbidity matched subjects between 2000 and 2009 from database of NHRI in Taiwan. The two cohorts were followed until December 31, 2011. The primary outcome of interest was new diagnosis of stroke. The crude hazard ratio (HR) for future stroke among dermatitis patients treated with systemic corticosteroid was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.34-1.45; P < 0.0001) and TCM was 1.09 (95% CI, 1.05-1.13; P < 0.0001). The log-rank test showed a higher cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke in the patient treated with only systemic corticosteroid group than that treated with systemic corticosteroid and TCM, only TCM, and neither systemic corticosteroid nor TCM in the matched cohort during the follow-up period (P < 0.0001). We demonstrated that patients treated with systemic corticosteroid had an increased risk of stroke and that the risk probably decreased by TCM treatment.
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan ; Department of Applied Cosmetology, Master Program of Cosmetic Science, and Department of Cultural and Creative Industries, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan.
Kao-Sung
KS
Tsai
Department of Applied Cosmetology, Master Program of Cosmetic Science, and Department of Cultural and Creative Industries, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43302, Taiwan.
Chia-Sung
CS
Yen
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.
Po-Yuan
PY
Wu
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.
Jen-Huai
JH
Chiang
Center for General Education, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan ; Department of Dermatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
Jui-Lung
JL
Shen
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Chung-Hsien
CH
Yang
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.
Huey-Yi
HY
Chen
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan ; Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
Yung-Hsiang
YH
Chen
Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.
Wen-Chi
WC
Chen