Z Gastroenterol 2015; 53 - P11
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1551699

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease – preliminary results of a multicenter study of the Austrian IBD study group

H Gröchenig 1, C Dejaco 2, L Dzirlo 3, G Eckhard 4, T Feichtenschlager 5, H Fuchssteiner 6, J Gartner 7, T Haas 8, A Kirchgatterer 9, R Koch 10, O Ludwiczek 11, A Mayer 12, W Miehsler 13, P Papay 14, P Peters 15, R Platzer 16, G Reicht 17, P Steiner 18, J Stimakovits 19, T Waldhör 20, H Wenzl 21, G Novacek 2
  • 1KH Barmherzige Brüder, Innere Medizin, St. Veit/Glan, Austria
  • 2Medizinische Universität Wien, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin III, Wien, Austria
  • 3Krankenhaus Barmherzige Schwestern, III. Medizinische Abteilung, Wien, Austria
  • 4Landeskrankenhaus Oberpullendorf, Interne Abteilung, Oberpullendorf, Austria
  • 5Krankenhaus Rudolfstiftung Wien, IV Medizinische Abteilung, Wien, Austria
  • 6KH Elisabethinen Linz, Innere Medizin IV, Linz, Austria
  • 7Hanusch Krankenhaus, Innere Medizin, Wien, Austria
  • 8Darmpraxis Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
  • 9Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Abteilung für Innere Medizin V, Grieskirchen, Austria
  • 10Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innere Medizin I, Innsbruck, Austria
  • 11Landeskrankenhaus Hall in Tirol, Innere Medizin, Hall in Tirol, Austria
  • 12Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten, 2. Medizinische Abteilung, St. Pölten, Austria
  • 13KH Barmherzige Brüder, Innere Medizin, Salzburg, Austria
  • 14Hartmannspital Wien, Innere Medizin, Wien, Austria
  • 15Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch, Abteilung für Innere Medizin, Feldkirch, Austria
  • 16Landeskrankenhaus Wiener Neustadt, Abteilung für Innere Medizin I, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
  • 17KH Barmherzige Brüder Graz, Abteilung für Innere Medizin, Graz, Austria
  • 18Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Abteilung für Innere Medizin I, Wels, Austria
  • 19KH Barmherzige Brüder Eisenstadt, Innere Medizin, Eisenstadt, Austria
  • 20Medizinische Universität Wien, Abteilung für Epidemiologie, Wien, Austria
  • 21Medizinische Universität Graz, Abteilung für Gastroenterologie & Hepatologie, Graz, Austria

Background: CAM is frequently used in Western European countries, especially in chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with a frequency ranging from 20% to 50%. No recent data on CAM use are available for Austrian IBD patients. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of CAM use in IBD patients in Austria as well as factors influencing CAM use.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, adult patients with IBD (Crohn's disease CD, ulcerative colitis UC, inflammatory bowel disease unclassified IBDU) are eligible to complete a multi-item questionnaire. For study completion inclusion of 1500 subjects is planned. Surveyed data consist of demography, clinical variables and the use of CAM for IBD. Disease activity was determined by patient estimation. Due to the presentation of preliminary results of this ongoing study with low numbers of included patients until now, we describe only numeric results without performing further statistical analyses.

Results: Between June and November 2014 223 patients (141 with CD, 71 with UC, 3 with IBDU) with a mean age of 40.6 years (range 18 – 74 years) were included. Previous CAM use for IBD was reported by 71 CD patients (50.4%), 37 UC patients (52.1%) and 3 IBDU patients (100%). 56 out of 104 (53.9%) female patients and 57 out of 119 male patients (47.9%) reported CAM use. 22 out of 47 (46.8%) smokers used CAM compared to 48 out of 89 (54%) non-smokers. The frequency of CAM use according to disease activity was as follows: inactive 19 out of 34 (55.9%), mild active 40 out of 80 (50%), moderate active 34 out of 68 (50%), and highly active 18 out of 32 (56.3%).

Summary: CAM use for IBD is frequent in Austrian IBD patients. This was observed in CD patients as well as in UC patients.