Research Article

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among People with Multiple Sclerosis in the Nordic Countries

Table 4

Overview of symptoms/health issues addressed by the use of CAM among people with MS in the Nordic countries.

Symptom/health issue addressed by use of CAM
Denmark ( )Norway ( )Sweden ( )Finland ( )Iceland ( )
(%)OR(CI) (%)OR(CI) (%)OR(CI) (%)OR(CI) (%)OR(CI)

To strengthen the body in general629(65.0)1.44(1.15–1.81)+174(63.9)1.42(1.08–1.87)+161(55.9)1.24(0.94–1.64)138(45.0)177(55.3)1.23(0.87–1.73)
To improve well-being510(52.7)1.35(1.05–1.73)+106(38.9)1151(52.4)1.35(0.99–1.81)207(67.6)1.73(1.30–2.31)+100(71.9)1.84(1.31–2.60)+
Fatigue/lack of energy401(41.5)1.02(0.80–1.31)139(51.1)1.26(0.94–1.71)116(40.2)1135(44.1)1.09(0.81–1.47)91(65.4)1.62(1.15–2.28)+
To prevent symptoms351(36.3)1.34(1.01–1.77)+92(33.8)1.25(0.89–1.76)78(27.0)1104(33.9)1.25(0.89–1.75)54(38.8)1.43(0.96–2.14)
Body pain210(21.7)1.14(0.83–1.57)84(30.8)1.62(1.12–2.36)+72(25.0)1.31(0.90–1.93)58(18.9)164(46.0)2.43(1.61–3.65)+
To improve the body’s
muscle strength
192(19.9)1.50(1.04–2.18)+50(18.3)1.39(0.89–2.19)38(13.1)143(14.0)1.06(0.67–1.70)55(39.5)2.99(1.89–4.75)+
Problems with balance189(19.5)1.53(1.06–2.21)+50(18.3)1.44(0.92–2.26)46(15.9)1.25(0.79–1.98)39(12.7)142(30.2)2.37(1.46–3.83)+
To reduce the frequency of attacks188(19.4)5.93(3.10–11.36)+33(12.1)3.71(1.79–7.67)+22(7.6)2.34(1.09–5.02)+10(3.2)139(28.0)8.58(4.17–17.69)+
Spasms/tensions/cramps176(18.2)1.08(0.77–1.53)56(20.5)1.230.81–1.88)48(16.6)169(22.5)1.35(0.91–2.02)26(18.7)1.12(0.67–1.88)
Sensing disorders138(14.3)2.56(1.50–4.37)+21(7.7)1.39(0.71–2.72)16(5.5)124(7.8)1.41(0.74–2.71)24(17.2)3.11(1.59–6.04)+
Indigestion/problems with
the intestinal system
136(14.1)148(17.6)1.25(0.88–1.79)64(22.2)1.58(1.14–2.19)+60(19.6)1.39(1.00–1.93)+36(25.8)1.84(1.23–2.77)+
Problems with bladder/urination119(12.3)1.29(0.84–1.98)49(18.0)1.90(1.16–3.09)+32(11.1)1.17(0.69–1.98)29(9.4)132(23.0)2.42(1.41–4.17)+
Headache115(11.9)1.45(0.92–2.28)36(13.2)1.62(0.94–2.76)24(8.3)1.02(0.57–1.82)25(8.1)134(24.4)2.99(1.72–5.21)+
General discomfort113(11.7)1.12(0.73–1.71)43(15.8)1.52(0.93–2.49)30(10.4)145(14.7)1.41(0.87–2.30)44(31.6)3.04(1.83–5.04)+
Problems with walking105(10.9)1.08(0.59–1.93)28(10.2)1.02(0.52–2.00)31(10.7)1.09(0.55–2.07)38(12.4)1.23(0.65–2.35)14(10.0)1
Cognitive problems83(8.6)2.38(1.25–4.53)+24(8.8)2.45(1.18–5.10)+21(7.2)2.03(0.96–4.28)11(3.5)128(20.1)5.60(2.71–11.58)+
Psychological problems82(8.5)2.59(1.33–5.06)+26(9.5)2.92(1.38–6.18)+17(5.9)1.81(0.81–4.01)10(3.2)127(19.4)5.94(2.80–12.62)+
Dizziness82(8.5)3.69(1.69–8.09)+20(7.3)3.21(1.34–7.72)+11(3.8)1.67(0.64–4.37)7(2.2)123(16.5)7.23(3.03–17.26)+
Problems with coordination/shaking67(6.9)1.88(0.95–3.70)10(3.6)116(5.5)1.51(0.67–3.39)16(5.2)1.33(0.59–3.02)21(15.1)4.11(1.88–8.96)+
Visual disorders49(5.1)1.32(0.68–2.58)11(4.0)1.06(0.45–2.48)11(3.8)113(4.2)1.11(0.49–2.52)22(15.8)4.14(1.95–8.78)+
Paralysis26(2.7)1.64(0.62–4.31)7(2.5)1.57(0.49–5.02)7(2.4)1.48(0.46–4.7)5(1.6)110(7.1)4.40(1.47–13.12)+
Problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing22(2.3)18(2.9)1.29(0.57–2.94)10(3.4)1.53(0.72–3.27)8(2.6)1.15(0.51–2.61)16(11.5)5.07(2.59–9.89)+
Symptoms/health issues addressed by less than 2% in
all countries (cold hands and feet, nails, hair, PMS, itching, menopause, weight, sleep, eczema, allergies, lack of appetite, canker sores, blood sugar instability, pregnancy, detox, oedema, stress, and sexual problems)
50(5.2)1.17(0.61–2.23)12(4.4)122(7.63)1.73(0.84–3.56)19(6.20)1.41(0.67–2.95)9(6.4)1.46(0.60–3.56)
Addressing of one or more nonspecific/preventive symptoms/health issues (including strengthening the body in general, improving well-being, preventing symptoms, improving the body’s muscle strength, and reducing the frequency of attacks and general discomfort)79782.21.04(0.85–1.26)22281.61.03(0.80–1.32)22879.2125683.71.06(0.83–1.34)11884.91.07 (0.79–1.45)

+”signifies that the prevalence is significantly higher than the lowest prevalence. Significance has been determined by interpretation of the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (if 1 is contained in the CI, ).