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 general
629
(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)
1
77
(55.3)
1.23
(0.87–1.73)
To improve well-being
510
(52.7)
1.35
(1.05–1.73)+
106
(38.9)
1
151
(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 energy
401
(41.5)
1.02
(0.80–1.31)
139
(51.1)
1.26
(0.94–1.71)
116
(40.2)
1
135
(44.1)
1.09
(0.81–1.47)
91
(65.4)
1.62
(1.15–2.28)+
To prevent symptoms
351
(36.3)
1.34
(1.01–1.77)+
92
(33.8)
1.25
(0.89–1.76)
78
(27.0)
1
104
(33.9)
1.25
(0.89–1.75)
54
(38.8)
1.43
(0.96–2.14)
Body pain
210
(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)
1
64
(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)
1
43
(14.0)
1.06
(0.67–1.70)
55
(39.5)
2.99
(1.89–4.75)+
Problems with balance
189
(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)
1
42
(30.2)
2.37
(1.46–3.83)+
To reduce the frequency of attacks
188
(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)
1
39
(28.0)
8.58
(4.17–17.69)+
Spasms/tensions/cramps
176
(18.2)
1.08
(0.77–1.53)
56
(20.5)
1.23
0.81–1.88)
48
(16.6)
1
69
(22.5)
1.35
(0.91–2.02)
26
(18.7)
1.12
(0.67–1.88)
Sensing disorders
138
(14.3)
2.56
(1.50–4.37)+
21
(7.7)
1.39
(0.71–2.72)
16
(5.5)
1
24
(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)
1
48
(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/urination
119
(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)
1
32
(23.0)
2.42
(1.41–4.17)+
Headache
115
(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)
1
34
(24.4)
2.99
(1.72–5.21)+
General discomfort
113
(11.7)
1.12
(0.73–1.71)
43
(15.8)
1.52
(0.93–2.49)
30
(10.4)
1
45
(14.7)
1.41
(0.87–2.30)
44
(31.6)
3.04
(1.83–5.04)+
Problems with walking
105
(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 problems
83
(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)
1
28
(20.1)
5.60
(2.71–11.58)+
Psychological problems
82
(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)
1
27
(19.4)
5.94
(2.80–12.62)+
Dizziness
82
(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)
1
23
(16.5)
7.23
(3.03–17.26)+
Problems with coordination/shaking
67
(6.9)
1.88
(0.95–3.70)
10
(3.6)
1
16
(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 disorders
49
(5.1)
1.32
(0.68–2.58)
11
(4.0)
1.06
(0.45–2.48)
11
(3.8)
1
13
(4.2)
1.11
(0.49–2.52)
22
(15.8)
4.14
(1.95–8.78)+
Paralysis
26
(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)
1
10
(7.1)
4.40
(1.47–13.12)+
Problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing
22
(2.3)
1
8
(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)
1
22
(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)
797
82.2
1.04
(0.85–1.26)
222
81.6
1.03
(0.80–1.32)
228
79.2
1
256
83.7
1.06
(0.83–1.34)
118
84.9
1.07
(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, ).