Faculty of Sociology and Population Studies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyua Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China.
School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Level 8, Building 10, 235-253 Jones St, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 22;12(1):12566. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-16927-4.
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for arthritis in China and elsewhere across the world. However, knowledge about the prevalence and profile of middle-aged and older women who used CHM for arthritis in China is limited. This study aims to identify potentially important insights into the factors associated with CHM use amongst middle-aged and older women with arthritis in China. Data were drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a population-based survey of Chinese adults aged 45 years or older, comprising 10,833 Chinese women who completed a questionnaire in 2015. Stepwise multiple logistic regression modeling was conducted to determine the key factors (demographic, health condition, and health services use) predicting the use of CHM for the treatment of arthritis. Results revealed that 17.2% of women with arthritis were taking CHM for their arthritic symptoms. Women with arthritis who used CHM were more likely to experience finger pain (OR = 1.70), had difficulty in stooping, kneeling, crouching (OR = 1.40), visited a Traditional Chinese hospital (OR = 2.22), consulted massage therapists (OR = 2.06) and/or had experienced a fall (OR = 1.41). The prevalence of CHM use is high amongst middle-aged and older Chinese women with arthritis. Given the high risk of functional disability and impaired mental health, further research is needed to explore the potential health benefits of CHM for women with arthritis in order to help facilitate the efficacious and safe use of CHM alongside conventional medical care.
中草药（CHM）在中国和世界其他地方被用于关节炎。然而，对于中国中年和老年女性使用 CHM 治疗关节炎的流行情况和特征知之甚少。本研究旨在为中国中年和老年女性关节炎患者使用 CHM 的相关因素提供重要的见解。数据来自中国健康与退休纵向研究（CHARLS），这是一项针对中国 45 岁及以上成年人的人口普查调查，共纳入了 10833 名于 2015 年完成问卷调查的中国女性。采用逐步多因素逻辑回归模型来确定预测 CHM 治疗关节炎的关键因素（人口统计学、健康状况和卫生服务利用）。结果显示，17.2%的关节炎女性正在服用 CHM 来缓解关节炎症状。使用 CHM 的关节炎女性更有可能出现手指疼痛（OR=1.70），弯腰、跪地、下蹲困难（OR=1.40），就诊于中医院（OR=2.22），接受按摩师治疗（OR=2.06）和/或经历过跌倒（OR=1.41）。患有关节炎的中国中年和老年女性中 CHM 的使用率较高。鉴于功能障碍和心理健康受损的高风险，需要进一步研究 CHM 对关节炎女性的潜在健康益处，以帮助促进 CHM 与常规医疗保健的有效和安全使用。
