Association Between the Modalities of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Cost-Related Nonadherence to Medical Care Among Older Americans: A Cohort Study.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been increasingly prevalent among Americans, whereas its relationship with medical nonadherence is unknown. Using the National Health Interview Survey, we evaluated the use of CAM modalities and their association with cost-related nonadherence to medical care (CRN) among older Americans by gender strata. Men and women were, in general, in the same pattern of higher likelihood of reporting CRN if they utilized herbal supplements, meditation, and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulations ( < 0.05, respectively). Both men and women are more likely to report financial distress while using various CAM modalities.