title: An investigation of the use of acupuncture in stroke patients in Taiwan: a national cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acupuncture is considered a complementary and alternative medicine in many countries. The purpose of this study was to report the pattern of acupuncture use and associated factors in patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and identified 285001 new-onset stroke patients in 2000-2008 from 23 million people allover Taiwan. The use of acupuncture treatment after stroke within one year was identified. We compared sociodemographics, coexisting medical conditions, and stroke characteristics between stroke patients who did and did not receive acupuncture treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of acupuncture in stroke patients increased from 2000 to 2008. Female gender, younger age, white-collar employee status, higher income, and residence in areas with more traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians were factors associated with acupuncture use in stroke patients. Ischemic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.28), having no renal dialysis (OR 2.76, 95 % CI 2.45-3.13), receiving rehabilitation (OR 3.20, 95 % CI 3.13-3.27) and longer hospitalization (OR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.19-1.27) were also associated with acupuncture use. Stroke patients using rehabilitation services were more likely to have more acupuncture visits and a higher expenditure on acupuncture compared with stroke patients who did not receive rehabilitation services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of acupuncture in stroke patients is well accepted and increasing in Taiwan. The use of acupuncture in stroke patients is associated with sociodemographic factors and clinical characteristics.
authors: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.|Department of Chinese Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung 403, Taiwan.
authors: Shu-Wen
authors: SW
authors: Weng
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.|Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.|Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
authors: Ta-Liang
authors: TL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 110, Taiwan.|Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Chun-Chieh
authors: CC
authors: Yeh
authors: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.|Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.|Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.|Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
authors: Chien-Chang
authors: CC
authors: Liao
authors: School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, 824, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin-Long
authors: HL
authors: Lane
authors: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.|Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan.
authors: Jaung-Geng
authors: JG
authors: Lin
authors: School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, 824, Taiwan. hwathai@seed.net.tw.|Ph.D. Program for the Clinical Drug Discovery from Botanical Herbs, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan. hwathai@seed.net.tw.
authors: Chun-Chuan
authors: CC
authors: Shih
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acupuncture; Complementary and alternative medicine; Stroke; Traditional Chinese medicine; Use