Complementary and alternative medicine use among people with asthma and health-related quality of life

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and self-reported health-related quality of life among people with asthma. Method: Data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey and the 2010 Asthma Callback Survey (ACBS) were used. Survey respondents were men and women with asthma who were 18–99 years of age who responded to both surveys. Results: CAM use was associated with an increase in the number of days of poor mental health (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.02, 1.03) and poor physical health (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01, 1.02). The odds ratios are adjusted for covariates such as asthma severity, age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and educational attainment. CAM users report more days of poor mental health (7.2 versus 4.6) and poor physical health (9.6 versus 6.5) compared with those not using CAM therapies. Conclusions: Contrary to the hypotheses, CAM use is associated with poorer health-related quality of life. Implications for research and practice are discussed in detail.

• Airway disease
• BRFSS
• CAM
• chronic disease
• compliance
• respiratory disease
• self-treatment

Declaration of interest

The authors of this study have no conflicts of interest to declare.