Characteristics and Related Factors of Chinese Herbal Medicine Use in Middle-Aged and Older Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden in middle-aged and older Chinese populations, with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) often used as a complementary therapy. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of CHM use and its influencing factors in middle-aged and older Chinese patients with CVD.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2018 China Health and Aging Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We surveyed 4511 patients with CVD, aged 45 years or older, who reported using CHM to analyze their demographic characteristics, healthcare utilization, and health status.

Results: Approximately 24.05% (1085/4511) of the participants reported managing CVD with CHM. Compared with non-users, CHM users were older (OR=1.21; 95% CI=1.04-1.40), more educated (OR=1.30; 95% CI=1.08-1.57), more likely to reside in a city (OR=1.19; 95% CI=1.01-1.41), and were associated with visiting a Chinese medicine hospital (OR=1.17; 95% CI=1.01-1.37), self-medication (OR=1.48; 95% CI=1.24-1.77), poor health (OR=1.52; 95% CI=1.17-1.98), comorbidities such as kidney disease (OR=1.34; 95% CI=1.02-1.75), asthma (OR=1.67; 95% CI=1.21-2.32), and emotional problems (OR=1.98; 95% CI=1.28-3.07). In an additional interaction analysis, patients with urban residence and mood problems were most likely to use CHM (OR=6.93, 95% CI: 1.77-27.19).

Conclusion: Factors contributing to CHM use in middle-aged and older patients with CVD are multifaceted, encompassing demographic characteristics, health service, and health status.