Disease severity is associated with the use of complementary medicine to treat or manage type-2 diabetes: data from the 2002 and 2007 National Health Interview Survey

Nahin, Richard L; Byrd-Clark, Danita; Stussman, Barbara J; Kalyanaraman, Nilesh

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-193

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

Table 2 **Characteristics of adults who used complementary medicine (CM)* to treat their type-2 diabetes**

From: Disease severity is associated with the use of complementary medicine to treat or manage type-2 diabetes: data from the 2002 and 2007 National Health Interview Survey

	Did not use CM to treat/manage their diabetes			Used CM to treat/manage their diabetes
	N^†	Percent^‡	S.E.^§	N^†	Percent^‡	S.E.^§
All adults with type-2 diabetes	3873	96.57	0.37	141	3.43	0.37
	N^†	Percent^\|\|	S.E. ^§	N^†	Percent^\|\|	S.E. ^§	P-value^¶
Count of diabetes severity measures ^#
0-2 measures	2738	76.82	0.85	97	72.25	4.29	0.284
>=3 measures	904	23.18	0.85	41	27.75	4.29
Diabetes duration
1-< 5 years	1348	37.2	0.96	45	38.29	5.35	0.067
5-<10 years	835	23.28	0.98	21	15.11	3.58
>= 10 years	1536	39.52	1.02	74	46.6	5.33
Diabetes medication use
None	554	15.83	0.77	26	23.08	4.9	0.16
Any	3273	84.17	0.77	114	76.92	4.9
Functional limitation
No	3105	83.34	0.7	104	77.34	3.7	0.104
Yes	684	16.66	0.7	37	22.66	3.7
Weak/failing kidneys
No	3561	93.28	0.49	129	92.38	2.76	0.741
Yes	268	6.72	0.49	11	7.62	2.76
Coronary heart disease
No	3359	87.95	0.66	130	92.97	2.27	0.044
Yes	447	12.05	0.66	11	7.03	2.27
Severe vision problems
No	2921	78.91	0.8	105	77.21	4.29	0.706
Yes	874	21.09	0.8	36	22.71	4.29
Anxiety or depression
No	2800	73.62	0.89	100	72.59	4.82	0.823
Yes	1027	26.38	0.89	41	27.41	4.82
Gender
Male	1725	49.83	1.04	63	46.95	4.79	0.56
Female	2112	50.17	1.04	78	53.05	4.79
Age group
Age 18-44 yrs	451	12.54	0.71	22	16.65	4.02	0.04
Age 45-64 yrs	1653	46.71	0.99	73	55.11	4.97
Age 65+ yrs	1733	40.75	0.91	46	28.24	4.34
Education
Less than high school	1190	27.38	0.89	38	23.4	4.17	0.355
At least high school	2594	72.62	0.89	101	76.6	4.17
Income
$0-$34,999	2334	50.57	1.11	81	44.41	5.37	0.337
$35,000-$74,999	1035	32.05	1.15	40	29.08	5.03
$75,000 +	468	17.38	0.99	20	26.51	5.8
Race/ethnicity
NH White	2183	65.46	0.99	72	59.5	5.46	0.059
NH Black	802	15.9	0.68	20	9.93	2.7
Hispanic	650	12.25	0.64	37	19.09	3.42
Other races	202	6.39	0.59	12	11.48	4.32
Region of residence
Northeast	648	16.27	0.78	13	10.09	3.28	0.01
Midwest	846	23.6	1.05	22	16.44	3.9
South	1565	40.75	1.11	52	33.89	4.95
West	778	19.38	0.9	54	39.58	5.47
Health insurance
Public insurance	1390	30.43	0.91	39	22.57	4.02	0.135
Private insurance	2096	60.09	1.02	76	63.55	4.91
No insurance	342	9.47	0.63	24	13.88	3.46
Other health conditions ^**
0-2	2694	70.54	0.93	80	57.84	5.41	0.017
3 or more	1143	29.46	0.93	61	42.16	5.41
BMI level
BMI 0 - < 25	673	16.3	0.68	14	7.65	2.25	0.002
BMI 25 - < 30	1210	32.08	0.86	41	28.71	4.94
BMI >= 30	1954	51.62	0.98	86	63.64	5.08
Hypertension
No	1544	54.41	1	70	48	5.19	0.297
Yes	2279	57.59	1	71	52	5.19
Smoking status
Current	605	16.4	0.77	13	11.61	3.99	0.441
Former smoker	1329	35.52	0.99	53	34.51	4.69
Never smoker	1878	48.08	1	75	53.89	5.33
Alcohol use
Never/none	1202	29.19	0.94	40	23.97	3.91	0.21
Any	2604	70.81	0.94	99	76.03	3.91
Vigorous leisure activity
Unable to do or none	2784	77.82	0.95	93	67.08	5.79	0.086
Any per week	706	22.18	0.95	36	32.92	5.79
Perceived health status
Fair/poor	1715	43.74	1.02	56	30.35	4.58	0.012
Exc/VG/Good^††	2119	56.26	1.02	85	69.65	4.58

* CM use, the dependent variable for this study, was defined as use of any of the following in the past 12 months: acupuncture, Ayurveda, biofeedback, chelation therapy, chiropractic care, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, energy healing therapy/Reiki, folk medicine, hypnosis, massage therapy, movement based therapies, naturopathy, herbal supplements and other non-vitamin/non-mineral dietary supplements (NVNMDS), homeopathic treatment, diet-based therapies, traditional healers, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and relaxation techniques.
† The unweighted number of participants belonging to each category.
‡ The denominator used in the calculation of percentages was the number of adults with type-2 Diabetes, defined as all participants with diabetes excluding those who were both diagnosed at age <25 and were currently being treated with insulin, who were classified as having type-1 diabetes. Estimates were age adjusted using the projected 2000 U.S. population as the standard population and using four age groups: 18–24 years, 25–44 years, 45–64 years, and 65 years and over”.
§ Standard Errors.
|| For each individual characteristic, the denominator used in the calculation of percentages was the number of adults with type-2 Diabetes for whom a response was recorded for the particular characteristic. Estimates were age adjusted using the projected 2000 U.S. population as the standard population and using four age groups: 18–24 years, 25–44 years, 45–64 years, and 65 years and over”.
¶ Chi-square analyses comparing individuals with Type-2 diabetes who used CM to treat/manage their diabetes versus those not using CM to treat/manage their diabetes.
# Based on the following six measures: 5 or more years since time of diagnosis, use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs, at least one functional limitation attributed to the diabetes, weak or failing kidneys, Coronary Heart Disease, and severe vision problems.
** Includes all health conditions included in the NHIS except weak or failing kidney, severe vision problems, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and anxiety or depression.
†† Excellent/Very Good/Good.

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