BARiatric Basic Questionnairy for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Interest in complementary medicine in 789 obese patients from Austria, Switzerland and Germany

Abstract

Aims: Obesity is the major multifactorial metabolic burden of the 21st century. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) add to the multidisciplinary treatment options. Aim of the study was to investigate the interest in TCM among bariatric patients. Methods: From April 2017, 789 patients from Germany (D: 265), Austria (A: 126) and Switzerland (CH: 398) answered the anonymous BARBQTCM questionnaires in the outpatient wards of the obesity centres. Age (median 46y), sex (female: 67.8%), Body Mass Index (BMI: median 37kg/m2; IQR: 30-44) and prior experience with CAM (414: 52.5%) were assessed. Results: 672 respondents (85.2%) had professional nutritional counselling, 602 underwent diverse dietary programs (76.3%). Nearly half of the Swiss tried out weight loss drugs (D-A-CH: 22.3% vs. 25.4% vs. 48.0%; p<0.05). 522 patients (66.2%) underwent bariatric surgery: gastric banding (61/522: 11.7%), sleeve gastrectomy (187/522: 35.8%), Y-Roux (227/522: 43.5%) and Omega-Loop (47/522: 9.0%) gastric bypass. 166 respondents (31.8%) reported weight regain (>10 kilograms) after bariatric surgery. 659 respondents (83.5%) were interested in TCM. Top-3 indications for TCM therapy included weight problems (505/659: 76.6%) followed by chronic fatigue (439/659: 66.6%) and joint complaints (399/659: 60.5%). Austrians were least interested in eastern therapies: TCM nutritional advices (D-A-CH: 53.4% vs. 41.3% vs. 53.0%; p<0.05), acupuncture (D-A-CH: 43.8% vs. 30.2% vs. 48.5%; p<0.05) and herbal therapy (D-A-CH: 31.3% vs. 30.2% vs. 35.7%; n.s.). Conclusions: TCM has developed as important option in the interest of obese people. Standardized programs have to be offered to face the therapeutic challenge, especially in Austria