Prevalence of complementary therapy use for inflammatory arthritis patients: A cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate the characteristics of patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and to examine the relationship between pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep status in patients with IA and the use of CAM. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in Anhui, China between October 2021 and February 2022. Unpaired Student's t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation tests were employed to compare users versus non-users. Finally, logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent influences on the use of CAM in inflammatory joint disease. Result Significant associations were found between Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) scores, the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Assessment Scale (DASS-21), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and CAM use. The results showed that the logistic regression model was statistically significant (χ2 = 64.891, P = 0.000), and the model diagnostic compliance rate was 65.2%. The Hosmer Leeshawn test showed P = 0.787 > 0.05 and the model was well fitted. Conclusion Overall, older age, longer disease duration, higher disease activity, and more severe anxiety levels were associated with higher rates of CAM utilization.