Witt Claudia M, Lüdtke Rainer, Mengler Nils, Willich Stefan N
Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, D-10098 Berlin, Germany.
BMC Public Health. 2008 Dec 17;8:413. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-413.
Homeopathy is a highly debated but often used medical treatment. With this cohort study we aimed to evaluate health status changes under homeopathic treatment in routine care. Here we extend former results, now presenting data of an 8-year follow-up.
In a prospective, multicentre cohort study with 103 homeopathic primary care practices in Germany and Switzerland, data from all patients (age >1 year) consulting the physician for the first time were observed. The main outcome measures were: The patients' perceived change in complaint severity (numeric rating scales from 0 = no complaint to 10 = maximal severity) and quality of life as measured by the SF-36 at baseline, and after 2 and 8 years.
A total of 3,709 patients were studied, 73% (2,722 adults, 72.8% female, age at baseline 41.0 +/- 12.3; 819 children, 48.4% female, age 6.5 +/- 4.0) contributed data to the 8-year follow-up. The most frequent diagnoses were allergic rhinitis and headache in adults, and atopic dermatitis and multiple recurrent infections in children. Disease severity decreased significantly (p < 0.001) between baseline, 2 and 8 years (adults from 6.2 +/- 1.7 to 2.9 +/- 2.2 and 2.7 +/- 2.1; children from 6.1 +/- 1.8 to 2.1 +/- 2.0 and 1.7 +/- 1.9). Physical and mental quality of life sores also increased considerably. Younger age, female gender and more severe disease at baseline were factors predictive of better therapeutic success.
Patients who seek homeopathic treatment are likely to improve considerably. These effects persist for as long as 8 years.
顺势疗法是一种备受争议但常用的医学疗法。通过这项队列研究，我们旨在评估常规护理中顺势疗法治疗下的健康状况变化。在此，我们扩展了先前的结果，现呈现8年随访的数据。
在一项前瞻性、多中心队列研究中，观察了德国和瑞士103家顺势疗法初级保健机构中所有首次咨询医生的患者（年龄>1岁）的数据。主要结局指标为：患者自我感知的症状严重程度变化（数字评分量表，从0 = 无症状到10 = 最严重症状）以及基线时、2年和8年后通过SF - 36测量的生活质量。
共研究了3709例患者，73%（2722例成年人，72.8%为女性，基线年龄41.0±12.3岁；819例儿童，48.4%为女性，年龄6.5±4.0岁）的患者为8年随访提供了数据。成年人中最常见的诊断为过敏性鼻炎和头痛，儿童中为特应性皮炎和多次反复感染。疾病严重程度在基线、2年和8年之间显著降低（p < 0.001）（成年人从6.2±1.7降至2.9±2.2和2.7±2.1；儿童从6.1±1.8降至2.1±2.0和1.7±1.9）。身体和精神生活质量评分也有显著提高。年龄较小、女性以及基线时疾病更严重是治疗效果更好的预测因素。
寻求顺势疗法治疗的患者可能会有显著改善。这些效果可持续长达8年。
