C-Y Lai1,2, M-Y Wu3, J-H Chiang4,5, M-F Sun1,6, Y-H Chen7,8, C-T Chang5,9, J-G Lin1, H-R Yen1,3,6,10,11. 1. School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung. 3. Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung. 4. Health Data Management Office, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung. 5. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung. 6. Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung. 7. Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung. 8. Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung. 9. Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung. 10. Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung. 11. Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Large-scale studies of utilization of medical services among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are lacking. We aimed to investigate the usage of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among these patients in Taiwan. METHODS: We analyzed one million samples from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients (n = 1814) newly diagnosed with AD in 2001-2010 were divided into TCM users (n = 528) and non-TCM users (n = 1286). RESULTS: Compared with non-TCM users, TCM users were younger, had a higher female:male ratio and higher utilization rate of Western medicine. The median interval between diagnosis and the first TCM consultation was 7.92 months. Donepezil and rivastigmine were commonly prescribed medications. Chinese herbal medicine was the most popular treatment among TCM users. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the specific usage patterns of TCM and non-TCM medical services among patients with AD. The information could be used for improving the healthcare of patients with AD.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Large-scale studies of utilization of medical services among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are lacking. We aimed to investigate the usage of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among these patients in Taiwan. METHODS: We analyzed one million samples from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients (n = 1814) newly diagnosed with AD in 2001-2010 were divided into TCM users (n = 528) and non-TCM users (n = 1286). RESULTS: Compared with non-TCM users, TCM users were younger, had a higher female:male ratio and higher utilization rate of Western medicine. The median interval between diagnosis and the first TCM consultation was 7.92 months. Donepezil and rivastigmine were commonly prescribed medications. Chinese herbal medicine was the most popular treatment among TCM users. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the specific usage patterns of TCM and non-TCM medical services among patients with AD. The information could be used for improving the healthcare of patients with AD.