Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Denmark among women with and without breast cancer: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims:

The study aim was to describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among women with breast cancer and without breast cancer in Denmark. Furthermore, the aim was to investigate whether use was related to lifestyle factors, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods:

A cross-sectional design was applied, and data from 1452 women aged 63–82 years collected in 2010–2011 from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort was used. Some 717 of the women had breast cancer and 735 were without breast cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was applied with CAM use as the outcome variable and lifestyle factors, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and HRQoL as explanatory variables. Adjustments were made for potential confounders.

Results:

CAM was used by 34.3% (95% CI [30.1, 37.7]) of the women without breast cancer and 38.6% (95% CI [35.1, 42.2]) of the women with breast cancer. The most frequently used CAMs were massage, acupuncture/acupressure, relaxation techniques, reflexology, medicinal tea, herbs and plant extracts, and most CAM users used a single modality. CAM users were more likely to be younger, divorced, and less likely to smoke. Breast cancer status, body mass index, alcohol use, and comorbidity status were not significantly associated with CAM use. CAM users had lower means across all HRQoL dimensions compared to non-users.

Conclusions:

CAM use is common among Danish women, with no significant difference found when comparing women with and without breast cancer. CAM users seemingly had lower HRQoL, and were more likely to be younger, divorced, and less likely to smoke.