Child heart patients and alternative medicine
Child heart patients and alternative medicine
By Dr. George I. Traitses
Findings from a new study indicate that patients presenting to pediatric cardiology clinics in Canada reported a high use of complementary and alternative medicine products and practices.
Researchers developed and distributed a survey to pediatric cardiology patients and their parents or guardians who were seen at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa . The goal was to assess the current or prior use of complementary and alternative medicine and practices. Evaluated factors included indications for use, beliefs, sources of information and whether use of such treatments or practices was discussed with physicians.
Overall, 59.1% of respondents reporting the use of complementary and/or alternative medicine at any point in the child’s life. Significantly more participants treated at Stollery Children’s Hospital reported the use of complementary/alternative therapies compared with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
The most commonly used products were multivitamins (70.6%), unspecified cold remedies (11.8%), and supplements of vitamin C (22.1%), calcium (13.2%) and fish oil/omega-3 fatty acids (11.8%). The complementary and/or alternative practices and procedures most frequently reported included massage (37.5%), faith healing (25%), chiropractic (20%), aromatherapy (15%) and Aboriginal healing (7.5%).
Nearly half of evaluable participants (44.9%) indicated use of complementary and alternative therapies simultaneously with conventional prescription drugs. The researchers said although concurrent use is not necessarily unsafe and no respondents indicated experiencing adverse events as a result, there is an urgent need for additional safety data.
Seven users of complementary and/or alternative therapies reported experiencing a total of 12 adverse events. Nine events were considered of minor severity; three were considered moderately severe.
In total, 64.3% of respondents indicated having discussed the concurrent use of complementary and/or alternative therapies with their physicians and 31.3% reported discussion with pharmacists. The majority of respondents felt comfortable discussing these therapies at their cardiology clinic (78.4%), and more than half stated that they would like to receive more information on these therapies from their clinic.
“This confirms the importance of discussing the use of complementary and alternative medicine with patients, not only because it is important for the doctors to know what products and practices their patients are using in addition to the prescribed ones, but patients also wish to receive information regarding complementary and alternative medicine from their physicians,” the researchers wrote.
For more information on health and safety visit the Ontario Chiropractic Association; website at www.chiropractic.on.ca or call 1877-327-2273; Dr. George Traitses, 416-499-5656, www.infinite-health.com
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