Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practice Among Saudi Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparative Analysis by Stratification of CAM Users and Nonusers with Their Characteristics

	CAM Users, n (%)				Nonusers, n (%)	P value
	All	CKD Stages 3–4	CKD Stage 5-HD	CKD-Transplant
Numbers	173 (54.9)	151 (87.3)	13 (7.5)	9 (5.2)	142 (45.1)	-
Age in years (mean ± SD)	37.65 ± 16.78	36.63 ± 15.70	50.54 ± 24.50	40.67 ± 14.76	36.61 ± 16.31	0.577
Gender
Male	69 (39.9)	58 (38. 4)	5 (38.4)	6 (66.6)	51 (35.9)	0.470
Female	104 (60.1)	93 (61.5)	8 (61.5)	3 (33.3)	91 (64.1)
Marital status
Single	44 (25.4)	40 (26.5)	3 (23.1)	1 (11.1)	50 (35.5)	0.147
Married	119 (68.8)	104 (68.9)	7 (53.8)	8 (89.9)	85 (60.3)
Divorced	10 (5.8)	7 (4.6)	3 (23.1)	0	6 (4.2)
Education
Illiterate	8 (4.6)	7 (4.6)	1 (7.6)	0	8 (5.6)	0.233
Primary	21 (12.1)	14 (9.2)	6 (46.2)	1 (11)	9 (6.4)
Secondary	62 (35.8)	55 (36.42)	3 (23.1)	4 (44.5)	62 (43.7)
University	82 (47.4)	75 (49.6)	3 (23.1)	4 (44.5)	63 (44.3)
Occupation
Employed	37 (21.4)	31 (42.5)	4 (44.4)	2 (66.7)	28 (40)	0.658
Unemployed	48 (78.6)	42 (57.5)	5 (55.6)	1 (33.3)	42 (60)
Location
Riyadh	109 (63)	95 (62.9)	9 (69.2)	5 (55.6)	75 (54.3)	0.123
Outside Riyadh	64 (37)	56 (37.1)	4 (30.8)	4 (44.4)	63 (45.7)
Monthly income (SAR)
≤5000	40 (60.6)	33 (57.9)	3 (42.9)	1 (33.3)	35 (56.6)	0.021*
5001–10,000	19 (28.8)	15 (26.3)	3 (42.9)	1 (33.3)	6 (17)
≥10,000	7 (10.7)	9 (15.8)	1 (14.2)	1 (33.3)	13 (26.6)

Note: *Significant at P<0.05.

Abbreviations: SAR, Saudi Arabian Riyal; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HD, hemodialysis.

Table 2 Comparative Analysis by Stratification of Herbal Users and Nonusers with Their Characteristics

	Herbal Users, n (%)				Nonusers, n (%)	P value
	All	CKD Stages 3–4	CKD Stage 5-HD	CKD-Transplant
Number	153 (48.6)	135 (88.2)	9 (5.9)	9 (5.9)	162 (51.4)	-
Age	37.24 ± 16.66	35.94 ± 15.56	53.22 ± 25.97	40.66 ± 14.76	37.18 ± 16.49	0.950
Gender
Male	59 (38.6)	50 (37)	3 (33.3)	6 (66.6)	61 (37.7)	0.868
Female	94 (61.4)	85 (62.2)	6 (66.6)	3 (33.3)	101 (62.3)
Marital Status
Single	39 (25.5)	36 (26.7)	2 (22.25)	1 (11.1)	55 (34.2)	0.242
Married	106 (69.3)	93 (68.9)	5 (55.5)	8 (88.8)	98 (60.8)
Divorced	8 (5.2)	6 (4.4)	2 (22.2)	0	8 (5)
Education
Illiterate	7 (12.1)	6 (4.4)	1 (11.1)	0	9 (5.6)	0.345
Primary	18 (34.2)	13 (9.6)	4 (44.4)	1 (11.1)	12 (7.4)
Secondary	54 (4.7)	48 (35.5)	2 (22.2)	4 (44.4)	70 (43.2)
University	74 (49)	68 (50.3)	2 (22.2)	4 (44.4)	71 (43.8)
Occupation
Employed	34 (22.8)	29 (43.9)	3 (50)	2 (66.7)	31 (19.1)	0.498
Unemployed	119 (77.8)	37 (56.1)	3 (50)	1 (33.3)	131 (80.9)
Location
Riyadh	93 (60.8)	83 (61.4)	5 (55.55)	5 (55.5)	91 (56.2)	0.407
Outside Riyadh	60 (39.2)	52 (38.5)	4 (44.4)	4 (44.4)	71 (43.8)
Monthly income (SAR)
≤5000	31 (53.4)	29 (56.9)	1 (25)	1 (33.3)	36 (58.1)	0.283
5,001–10,000	17 (29.3)	14 (27.5)	2 (50)	1 (33.3)	11 (17.7)
≥10,001	10 (17.2)	8 (15.6)	1 (25)	1 (33.3)	15 (24.2)

Abbreviations: SAR, Saudi Arabian Riyal; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HD, hemodialysis.

Table 3 Most Frequently Reported Herbs Used by Herbal User Participants, n (%)

Herbs	All Users (n = 153)	CKD Stages 3–4 (n = 135)	CKD Stage 5-HD (n = 9)	CKD-Transplant (n = 9)
Parsley	78 (51)	72 (53.3)	3 (33.3)	3 (33.3)
Barley	23 (15)	18 (13.3)	3 (33.3)	2 (22.2)
Aniseed	42 (27.5)	37 (27.4)	3 (33.3)	2 (22.2)
Commiphora myrrha	30 (19.6)	25 (18.5)	3 (33.3)	2 (22.2)
Garlic	56 (36.6)	49 (36.3)	2 (33.3)	5 (55.6)
Lemon	60 (39.2)	51 (37.8)	3 (33.3)	6 (66.7)
Nigella sativa	94 (61.4)	79 (58.5)	9 (100)	6 (4.4)
Fenugreek	35 (22.9)	31 (23)	3 (33.3)	1 (11.1)
Olive oil	39 (25.5)	33 (24.4)	3 (33.3)	3 (33.3)
Thyme	32 (20.9)	29 (21.5)	2 (22.3)	1 (11.1)
Hibiscus	21 (13.7)	20 (14.8)	0	1 (11.1)
Gum Arabic	39 (25.5)	34 (21.2)	2 (22.2)	3 (33.3)
Most common reasons for herbal usage
Treatment of CKD or other comorbidities (n = 96)	96 (62.7)	82 (60.7)	9 (100)	5 (55.6)
Prophylaxis from disease (n = 46)	46 (30.1)	41 (30.4)	1 (11.1)	4 (44.4)
Belief that herbs may improve condition without harm (n = 23)	23 (15)	19 (14.1)	2 (22.2)	2 (22.2)

Abbreviations: CKD, chronic kidney disease; HD, hemodialysis.