OBJECTIVE: To define the utilization pattern of nonprescription therapies i
n patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and to compare this pattern
with that of an age- and gender-matched control group without any self-repo
rted heart conditions.
DESIGN: Survey questionnaire completed by participants at home.
SETTING: Ambulatory CHF clinic in a tertiary care hospital,
SUBJECTS: Patients attending the clinic between July 1995 and May 1996 who
agreed to participate. Control subjects were age- and gender-matched partic
ipants identified and approached by participating patients.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Nonprescription therapies used at least once weekly.
RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 180 (75%) of the 239 p
atients who agreed to participate and from 133 controls. Mean age of respon
ding patients was 69 years (63% men). Controls were younger, with a mean ag
e of 64 years (63% men). The most commonly used nonprescription medication
categories for both patients and controls, with no significant intergroup d
ifferences, were vitamins and minerals (59% patients, 50% controls), pain r
elievers (48% and 43%, respectively), herbal or health food products (38% a
nd 38%), antacids (26% and 28%), and laxatives (24% and 21%). Significantly
fewer patients than controls used cough and cold products (9% vs. 17%; p <
0.05), specifically oral decongestants (0.6% vs. 5%; p < 0.01), and more p
atients than controls used nutritional supplements (17% vs. 4%; p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, use of nonprescription therapies by our CHF clinic pa
tients is similar to that of an age- and gender-matched population without
a self-reported heart condition. The differences in medication use observed
between patients and controls included cough and cold products that might
be harmful. This likely reflects appropriate caution with which CHF patient
s approach nonprescription therapies.