The Prevalence of Natural Health Product Use in Patients with Acute Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Natural health products (NHP) use may have implications with respect to adverse effects, drug interactions and adherence yet the prevalence of NHP use by patients with acute cardiovascular disease and the best method to ascertain this information is unknown. Objective: To identify the best method to ascertain information on NHP, and the prevalence of use in a population with acute cardiovascular disease. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of consecutive patients admitted with acute cardiovascular disease to the University of Alberta Hospital during January 2009. NHP use was explored using structured and open-ended questions based on Health Canada’s definition of NHP. The medical record was reviewed, and documentation of NHP use by physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, compared against the gold-standard structured interview. Results: 88 patients were interviewed (mean age 62 years, standard deviation [SD 14]; 80 % male; 41 % admitted for acute coronary syndromes). Common co-morbidities included hypertension (59%), diabetes (26%) and renal impairment (19%). NHP use was common (78 % of patients) and 75 % of NHP users reported daily use. The category of NHP most commonly used was vitamins and minerals (73%) followed by herbal products (20%), traditional medicines including Chines

Frequency of natural health product use.

<p>Other infrequently used products used included [4 uses each] coenzyme Q10, and flax oil; hawthorn, chondroitin, ginko biloba, ginseng, and vitamin B6; [2 uses each] serrapeptase enzyme, methylsulfonylmethane, cayenne pepper, peppermint, green tea, herbal tea, thai tea, folic acid, and replavite; [1 use each] lutein, white willow bark, motherwort, bilberry, lavender, eucalyptus, wintergreen, menthol, camphor, opti-i-see eye drops, bromelain, turmeric, Echinacea, graviola, rat root plant leaf, banana leaf extract, cranberry supplement, celery herbal, rosemary herbal, seaweed herbal, chamomile tea, carboxymethylcellulose, collagen supplements, vitamin B50 complex, gelatin, and agar.</p

Frequency of natural health products documentation by clinical staff when compared to direct structured interview.

<p>*N represents the number of matched histories of natural health product use (between profession and direct interview).</p><p>**N represents the number matched unique NHP products.</p

Frequency of NHP intake.

<p>Frequency of NHP intake.</p