Frequency and co-prescription pattern of Chinese herbal products for hypertension in Taiwan: a Cohort study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0690-8
• Publication Date: 2015-06-05T10:12:13Z
• Authors: Pei-Rung Yang; Wei-Tai Shih; Yen-Hua Chu; Pau-Chung Chen; Ching-Yuan Wu
• Keywords: National Health Insurance

Chinese herbal products (CHPs) have been frequently used among patients with chronic diseases including hypertension; however, the co-prescription pattern of formulae and single herbs remain uncharacterized. Thus, this large-scale pharmacoepidemiological study evaluated frequency CHPs for treating hypertension in Taiwan from 2003 to 2009.The database traditional medicine (TCM) outpatient claims was obtained National Health Insurance Taiwan. Patients during period were defined according diagnostic codes International Classification Disease Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. The frequencies percentages formula herb prescriptions analyzed. We also applied association rules evaluate patterns.The cohort included 154,083 patients, 123,240 which (approximately 80 %) had TCM at least once. In total, 81,582 visits involving CHP related; Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin Dan Shen (Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae) most prescribed herb, respectively, hypertension.This elucidated utilization hypertension. Future studies on efficacy safety these drug-herb interactions are warranted.