Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research article

Use of biological based therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a university-hospital in New York City

Authors: Larisa Chagan, Diane Bernstein, Judy WM Cheng, Harold L Kirschenbaum, Vitalina Rozenfeld, Gina C Caliendo, Joanne Meyer, Bernard Mehl

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2005

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The use of complementary and alternative products including Biological Based Therapy (BBT) has increased among patients with various medical illnesses and conditions. The studies assessing the prevalence of BBT use among patients with cardiovascular diseases are limited. Therefore, an evaluation of BBT in this patient population would be beneficial. This was a survey designed to determine the effects of demographics on the use of Biological Based Therapy (BBT) in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the education level on the use of BBT in cardiovascular patients. This survey also assessed the perceptions of users regarding the safety/efficacy of BBT, types of BBT used and potential BBT-drug interactions.

Method

The survey instrument was designed to assess the findings. Patients were interviewed from February 2001 to December 2002. 198 inpatients with cardiovascular diseases (94 BBT users and 104 non-users) in a university hospital were included in the study.

Results

Users had a significantly higher level of education than non-users (college graduate: 28 [30%] versus 12 [12%], p = 0.003). Top 10 BBT products used were vitamin E [41(43.6%)], vitamin C [30(31.9%)], multivitamins [24(25.5%)], calcium [19(20.2%)], vitamin B complex [17(18.1%)], fish oil [12(12.8%)], coenzyme Q10 [11(11.7%)], glucosamine [10(10.6%)], magnesium [8(8.5%)] and vitamin D [6(6.4%)]. Sixty percent of users' physicians knew of the BBT use. Compared to non-users, users believed BBT to be safer (p < 0.001) and more effective (p < 0.001) than prescription drugs. Forty-two potential drug-BBT interactions were identified.

Conclusion

Incidence of use of BBT in cardiovascular patients is high (47.5%), as is the risk of potential drug interaction. Health care providers need to monitor BBT use in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins DR, Delbanco TL: Unconventional medicine in the United States prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. N Engl J Med. 1993, 328: 246-252. 10.1056/NEJM199301283280406.CrossRefPubMed
2.
3.
Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Rompay MV, Kessler RC: Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990 – 1997 Results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998, 280: 1569-157. 10.1001/jama.280.18.1569.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Kesser RC, Davis RB, Foster DF, Van Rompay MI, Walters EE, Wilkey SA, Kaptchuk TJ, Eisenberg DM: Long-term trends in use of complementary and alternative medical therapies in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2001, 135: 262-268.CrossRef
5.
Chandola A, Young Y, McAlister J, Axford JS: Use of complementary therapies by patients attending musculoskeletal clinics. J R Soc Med. 1999, 92: 13-16.PubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Anderson DL, McWhorter LS, Crouch BI, Andersen SJ: Prevalence and patterns of alternative medication use in the university hospital outpatient clinic serving rheumatology and geriatric patients. Pharmacotherapy. 2000, 20: 958-966. 10.1592/phco.20.11.958.35257.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Burstein HJ, Gelber S, Guadagnoli E, Weeks JC: Use of alternative medicine by women with early-stage breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1999, 340: 1733-1739. 10.1056/NEJM199906033402206.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Cassileth BR, Luck EJ, Strouse TB, Bodenheimer BJ: Contemporary unorthodox treatments in cancer medicine. Ann Intern Med. 1984, 101: 105-112.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Fernandez CV, Stutzer CA, MacWilliam L, Fryer C: Alternative and complementary therapy use in pediatric oncology patients in British Columbia: prevalence and reasons for use and nonuse. J Clin Oncol. 1998, 16: 1279-1286.PubMed
10.
11.
Fairfield KM, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Libman H, Phillips RS: Patterns of use, expenditures, and perceived efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies in HIV-infected patients. Arch Intern Med. 1998, 158: 2257-2264. 10.1001/archinte.158.20.2257.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Stephens NG, Parsons A, Schofield PM, Kelly F, Cheeseman K, Mitchinson MJ: Randomized controlled trial of vitamin E in patients with coronary disease: Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study (CHAOS). Lancet. 1996, 347: 781-786. 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)90866-1.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Yusuf S, Dagenais G, Pogue J, Bosch J, Sleight P: Vitamin E supplementation and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investigators. N Engl J Med. 2000, 342: 154-160. 10.1056/NEJM200001203420302.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Rapola JM, Virtamo J, Ripatti S, Huttunen JK, Albanes D, Taylor PR, Heinonen OP: Randomized trial of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements on incidence of major coronary events in men with previous myocardial infraction. Lancet. 1997, 349: 1715-1720. 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)01234-8.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Duffy SJ, Gokce N, Holbrook M, Huang A, Frei B, Keaney JF, Vita JA: Treatment of hypertension with ascorbic acid. Lancet. 1999, 354: 2048-2049. 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)04410-4.CrossRefPubMed
16.
GISSI-Prevenzione Investigators: Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto miocardico. Lancet. 1999, 354: 447-455. 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)07072-5.CrossRef
17.
von Schacky C, Angerer P, Kothny W, Theisen K, Mudra H: The effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on coronary atherosclerosis. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1999, 130: 554-562.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Singh RB, Niaz MA, Sharma JP, Kumar R, Rastogi V, Moshiri M: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil and mustard oil in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: the Indian experiment of infarct survival – 4. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1997, 11: 485-491. 10.1023/A:1007757724505.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Soja AM, Mortensen SA: Treatment of congestive heart failure with coenzyme Q 10 illuminated by meta-analyses of clinical trails. Molec Aspects Med. 1997, 18: 159-168. 10.1016/S0098-2997(97)00042-3.CrossRef
20.
Khatta M, Alexander BS, Krichten CM, Fisher ML, Freudenberger R, Robinson SW, Gottlieb SS: The effect of coenzyme Q10 in patients with congestive heart failure. Ann Intern Med. 2000, 132: 636-40.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Ackman ML, Cambell JB, Buzak KA, Tsuyuki RT, Montague TJ, Teo KK: Use of nonprescription medications by patients with congestive heart failure. Ann Pharmacother. 1999, 33: 674-679. 10.1345/aph.18283.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Liu EH, Turner LM, Lin SX, Klaus L, Choi LY, Whitworth J, Ting W, Oz MC: Use of alternative medicine by patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000, 120: 335-41. 10.1067/mtc.2000.107339.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Ai AL, Bolling SF: The use of complementary and alternative therapies among middle-aged and older cardiac patients. American Journal of Medical Quality. 2002, 17: 21-27.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Wood MJ, Stewart RL, Merry H, Johnstone DE, Cox JL: Use of complementary and alternative medical therapies in patients with cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J. 2003, 145: 806-12. 10.1016/S0002-8703(03)00084-X.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Pharand C, Ackman ML, Jackevicius CA, Paradiso-Hardy F, Pearson GJ: Use of OTC and herbal products in patients with cardiovascular disease. Ann Pharmacother. 2003, 37: 899-904. 10.1345/aph.1C163.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Reuning RH, Geraets DR, Rocci ML, Vlasses PH: Digoxin. Applied Pharmacokinetics Principles of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. Edited by: Evans WE, Schentag JJ, Jusko WJ, Relling MV. 1992, Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics, Inc, 20-29. 3
27.
Porter RS, Sawyer WT: Warfarin. Applied Pharmacokinetics Principles of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. Edited by: Evans WE, Schentag JJ, Jusko WJ, Relling MV. 1992, Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics, Inc, 31-8-31-13. 3
28.
MICROMEDEX® Healthcare Series Integrated Index: Thomson MICROMEDEX. Vol. 120 expires 6/2004
29.
Steiner M: Vitamin E, a modifier of platelet function: rationale and use in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Nutr Rev. 1999, 57: 306-309.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Liede KE, Haukka JK, Saxen LM, Heinonen OP: Increased tendency towards gingival bleeding caused by joint effect of alpha-tocopherol supplementation and acetylsalicylic acid. Ann Med. 1998, 30: 542-546.CrossRefPubMed
31.
32.
Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL: Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000, 57: 1221-1227.PubMed
33.
Corrigan JJ: The effect of vitamin E on warfarin-induced vitamin K deficiency. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1982, 393: 361-368.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Corrigan JJ, Ulfers LL: Effect of vitamin E on prothrombin levels in warfarin-induced vitamin K deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981, 34: 1701-1705.PubMed
35.
Vaes LP, Chyka PA: Interactions of warfarin with garlic, ginger, ginkgo, or ginseng: nature of the evidence. Ann Pharmacother. 2000, 34: 1478-1482.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Miller LG: Herbal medicines: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998, 158: 2200-2211. 10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200.CrossRefPubMed
37.
38.
Matthews MK: Association of Gingko biloba and intracranial hemorrhage. Neurology. 1998, 50: 1934-CrossRef
39.
Sakamoto N, Nishiike T, Iguchi H, Sakamoto K: Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid intake on plasma fibrinolytic and coagulation activity by using physical load in the young. Nutrition. 2000, 16: 11-14. 10.1016/S0899-9007(99)00181-1.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O: Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid and plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leurotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 1994, 51: 311-316. 10.1016/0952-3278(94)90002-7.CrossRef
41.
Spigset O: Reduced effect of warfarin caused by ubidecarenone. Lancet. 1994, 334: 1372-1373. 10.1016/S0140-6736(94)90736-6.CrossRef
42.
Landbo C, Almdal TP: Interaction between warfarin and coenzyme Q10. (Abstract in English). Ugeskr Laeger. 1998, 160: 3226-3227.PubMed
43.
Taylor JR, Wilt VM: Probable antagonism of warfarin by green tea. Ann Pharmacother. 1999, 33: 426-428. 10.1345/aph.18238.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Use of biological based therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a university-hospital in New York City
Authors
Larisa Chagan
Diane Bernstein
Judy WM Cheng
Harold L Kirschenbaum
Vitalina Rozenfeld
Gina C Caliendo
Joanne Meyer
Bernard Mehl
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-5-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2005

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2005 Go to the issue

Research article

Medicinal herb use among asthmatic patients attending a specialty care facility in Trinidad

Research article

Electrical impedance along connective tissue planes associated with acupuncture meridians

Research article

Time-lapse analysis of potential cellular responsiveness to Johrei, a Japanese healing technique

Research article

Protective action of a hexane crude extract of Pterodon emarginatus fruits against oxidative and nitrosative stress induced by acute exercise in rats

Research article

An experimental study of sexual function improving effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg)

Research article

Naturopaths practice behaviour: provision and access to information on complementary and alternative medicines