Prescription Profile of Chinese Herbal Products Containing Aristolochic Acid in Taiwan
Author Information
Author(s): Hsieh Shu-Ching, Lin I-Hsin, Tseng Wei-Lum, Lee Chang-Hsing, Wang Jung-Der
Primary Institution: National Taiwan University
Hypothesis
This study aims to identify the risk and the prescription profile of AA-containing CHPs in Taiwan.
Conclusion
About one-third of people in Taiwan have been prescribed with AA-CHPs between 1997 and 2003.
Supporting Evidence
- 78,644 patients were prescribed with AA-CHPs during the study period.
- Over 85% of the AA-exposed patients took less than 60 g of AA-herbs.
- Patients of respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases received most of the AA-CHP prescriptions.
- More than 70% of the patients were exposed to lower cumulated doses of AA herbs.
Takeaway
Many people in Taiwan were given herbal medicines that might be harmful, and we need to be careful about using these herbs.
Methodology
A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a randomly sampled cohort of 200,000 patients using the data from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan between 1997 and 2003.
Potential Biases
Different pharmaceutical companies may have varying degrees of AA herb adulterations.
Limitations
The study was based on NHI reimbursement data, which may not represent all consumption of AA herbs in Taiwan.
Participant Demographics
Most patients were middle-aged females.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website