Prevalence and indicators of use of complementary and alternative medicine in Austrian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) seems to be frequently used among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine the prevalence and indicators of CAM use in Austrian IBD patients.

METHODS: In a multicentre cross-sectional study, adult patients with IBD attending 18 Austrian outpatient clinics completed a multi-item questionnaire that recorded use of CAM as well as medical and socioeconomic characteristics. Patients were recruited between June 2014 and June 2015. The study outcome was the prevalence of CAM use and its socioeconomic and disease-related associations.

RESULTS: A total of 1286 patients (Crohn's disease 830, ulcerative colitis 435, IBD unclassified 21; females 651) with a median age of 40 years (interquartile range 31-52 years) and a median disease duration of 10 years (4-18 years) were analysed. The prevalence of previous and/or current CAM use was 50.7%, with similar results for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In the multivariable analysis, female gender and a university education were independent socioeconomic indicators of CAM use. IBD-related indicators were longer duration of the disease and previous and/or current treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors.

CONCLUSION: CAM use for IBD is frequent in Austrian IBD patients and associated with female gender, higher educational level of university degree, longer duration of the disease, and treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors.