Objective: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of use of complemen
tary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the elderly.
Design: Cross-sectional survey examining patterns of use of complementary t
herapies in two urban multiethnic populations of older adults.
Setting and Subjects: A convenience sample of 421 older participants were i
nterviewed at two sites: a university geriatrics primary care practice and
a veterans medical clinic, both in New York City. Subjects were excluded if
they did not speak English or if they were moderately cognitively impaired
.
Measurement: Use of CAM within the previous year.
Results: Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all subjects surveyed used some form
of CAM, and close to 75% at the university practice alone. Use correlated m
ost strongly with female gender (p < 0.0001), greater education (p = 0.0095
), thyroid disease (p = 0.0190) and arthritis (p = 0.0251). There was no co
rrelation with income, race, age, or self-perceived health status.
Conclusions: CAM use is highly prevalent in older persons in this study, es
pecially among females and those who are more highly educated.