[Complementary and alternative medicine in patients attending a rheumatology department for the first time. Analysis of 800 patients].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients attending a rheumatology department in a general hospital for the first time.

METHODS

We included consecutive patients attending our rheumatology department for the first time. All the patients completed a self-administered questionnaire containing items on demographic data, and prior diagnosis. The patients were also given a list of 22 different CAM and marked those they had previously used.

RESULTS

Eight hundred patients were studied. Eighty percent were women. The mean age was 44.8±14.9 years and the mean number of years of education was 7±4. The main diagnoses were osteoarthritis (29.4%), rheumatoid arthritis (22.3%), and fibromyalgia (6.5%). Seventy-one percent had previously used CAM, with a median of two (0-14) different types. The most common were vitamin supplements (38%), arnica (18%), Aloe vera (15%) and homeopathy (15%). No significant differences were found in sex, age, educational level, or diagnosis. The use of CAM was more frequent in patients with longer disease duration.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of use of CAM is high in patient with rheumatologic manifestations.