HERBAL PREPARATION USE AMONG URBAN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS

Objective: To determine the prevalence of herbal preparation use among patients presenting to an urban teaching hospital ED. Methods: A pros pective anonymous survey on herbal preparation use was performed. Cons ecutive, acutely ill or injured adult (greater than or equal to 18 yea rs old) ED patients were offered the survey over a 1-month period. The survey also asked for information related to patient age, ethnicity, gender, employment, education, cigarette smoking history, ethanol cons umption, use of illicit drugs, chief complaint, and HIV status. Result s: Of 2,473 eligible subjects, 623 (25%) participated. The overall rep orted prevalence of herbal preparation use among the participants was 21.7%. Women were more likely to use herbal preparations than men (28. 5% vs 17.2%, p = 0.013). Prevalence rates in different ethnic populati ons were: whites, 18.2%; Hispanics, 13.9%; blacks, 26.4%; and Asians, 36.8%. Asians had a significantly higher use rate than the other ethni c groups (p = 0.039). Neither HIV positivity, educational level, emplo yment status, nor age was significantly associated with herbal prepara tion use. The most commonly reported herbal preparations were goldense al tea, garlic, and ginger. Several of the herbal preparations reporte d as used by patients in this study have been associated with severe s ystemic toxicity in the medical literature. Conclusion: Although the s urvey response rate was low, the prevalence of herbal preparation use among acutely ill or injured patients presenting to this urban ED rema ins significant. A directed history toward specific herbal preparation use may provide relevant pharmacologic information and uncover cases of herbal-preparation-induced toxicity.