The Utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Saudi Older Adults: A Population-Based Study
Table 1
Univariable and bivariable analyses of complementary and alternative medicine utilization among Saudi older adults (N = 2,946).
Subjects characteristics
Total N = 2,946
No CAM use n = 1096 (37.5%)
CAM use n = 1850 (62.5%)
χ2, value
n
(%)
n
(%)
n
(%)
Gender
0.627
Female
1187
(49.6)
443
(38.3)
744
(61.7)
Male
1759
(50.4)
653
(36.7)
1106
(63.3)
Age (years)
0.918
60–65
1072
(37.7)
421
(38.6)
651
(61.4)
66–70
697
(23.2)
250
(36.7)
447
(63.3)
71–75
504
(16.6)
185
(37.1)
319
(62.9)
76–80
342
(11.3)
118
(36.2)
224
(63.8)
81–85
181
(6.1)
67
(36.8)
114
(63.2)
86–90
101
(3.4)
33
(33.8)
68
(66.2)
>90
49
(1.8)
22
(43.6)
27
(56.4)
Education level
0.212
Illiterate
1943
(69.6)
718
(38)
1225
(62)
Less than 8 years
705
(21.8)
247
(34)
458
(66)
Intermediate or high
222
(6.5)
102
(44.4)
120
(55.6)
University or higher
76
(2.1)
29
(34.5)
47
(65.5)
Smoking history
0.006
Never smoke
2375
(82.9)
932
(39.3)
1443
(60.7)
Ex-smoker
385
(11.4)
113
(29.5)
272
(70.5)
Occasional smoker
22
(0.7)
8
(30.7)
14
(69.3)
Daily smoker
164
(5)
43
(26.2)
121
(73.8)
Income (SR)
0.859
>10000
181
(5.6)
82
(41.5)
99
(58.5)
9,999–7,500
140
(4.2)
52
(35.4)
88
(64.6)
7,499–5,000
318
(9.6)
114
(35.5)
204
(64.5)
4,999–2,500
752
(24.2)
269
(36.5)
483
(63.5)
<2,500
1555
(56.5)
579
(38)
976
(62)
Marital status
0.193
Monogamy
1741
(57.2)
641
(36.8)
1100
(63.2)
Polygamy
430
(13.2)
174
(40.5)
256
(59.5)
Widowed
584
(23.1)
226
(39.8)
358
(60.2)
Single
115
(3.6)
38
(33.2)
77
(66.8)
Separated
76
(2.9)
17
(24.2)
59
(75.8)
Residence
0.132
Urban
2398
(80.1)
954
(40.3)
1444
(59.7)
Rural
548
(19.9)
142
(26.3)
406
(73.7)
Regions
0.390
Central
753
(23.2)
308
(41.2)
445
(58.8)
Western
874
(31.1)
257
(28.8)
617
(71.2)
Eastern
393
(13.7)
111
(34.8)
282
(65.2)
Southern
731
(25.1)
314
(42)
417
(58)
Northern
195
(6.9)
106
(53.2)
89
(46.8)
BMI WHO categories
0.990
Less than 18.5
50
(1.8)
18
(36.2)
32
(63.8)
From 18.5 to 25
872
(28.6)
319
(37.3)
553
(62.7)
From 25 to 30
1132
(37.5)
431
(37.9)
701
(62.1)
More than 30
892
(32.1)
328
(37.2)
564
(62.8)
Cognitive impairmentℵ
0.022
Normal cognition
2474
(82)
872
(35.2)
1602
(64.8)
Mild
312
(11.9)
144
(47.7)
168
(52.3)
Moderate
103
(4)
49
(46.3)
54
(53.7)
Severe
57
(2.2)
31
(52.5)
26
(47.5)
Depression◊
0.146
Normal (<5)
2192
(73.3)
853
(39.2)
1339
(60.8)
Suggestive (5–10)
682
(24.2)
218
(32.4)
464
(67.6)
Depression (>10)
72
(2.6)
25
(37.5)
47
(62.5)
Diabetes mellitus
0.905
No
1625
(55.6)
597
(37.3)
1028
(62.7)
Yes
1321
(44.4)
499
(37.7)
822
(62.3)
Hypertension
0.519
No
1072
(35.5)
416
(38.6)
656
(61.4)
Yes
1874
(64.5)
680
(36.9)
1194
(63.1)
Stroke
0.226
No
2906
(98.7)
1077
(37.3)
1829
(62.7)
Yes
40
(1.3)
19
(48.9)
21
(51.1)
Cancer
0.048
No
2892
(98.1)
1067
(37.2)
1825
(62.8)
Yes
54
(1.9)
29
(54.3)
25
(45.7)
Ischemic heart disease
0.589
No
2838
(96.5)
1053
(37.4)
1785
(62.6)
Yes
108
(3.5)
43
(40.6)
65
(59.4)
Metabolic disorders
< 0.001
No
2106
(71.3)
685
(32.1)
1421
(67.9)
Yes
840
(28.7)
411
(50.8)
429
(49.2)
Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease
0.012
No
2912
(98.9)
1076
(37.2)
1836
(62.8)
Yes
34
(1.1)
20
(61)
14
(39)
Neck pain
0.016
No
2539
(85.4)
990
(39.2)
1549
(60.8)
Yes
407
(14.6)
106
(27.6)
301
(72.4)
Back pain
0.024
No
1694
(56.3)
685
(41)
1009
(59)
Yes
1252
(43.7)
411
(33)
841
(67)
Blood in stools
0.091
No
2882
(97.9)
1065
(37.2)
1817
(62.8)
Yes
64
(2.1)
31
(49.8)
33
(50.2)
Headache
0.315
No
1153
(37.4)
469
(39.9)
684
(60.1)
Yes
1793
(62.6)
627
(36)
1166
(64)
Fainting
< 0.001
No
2490
(84.1)
1010
(40.9)
1480
(59.1)
Yes
456
(15.9)
86
(19.6)
370
(80.4)
Feeling fatigued
0.022
No
363
(13.2)
177
(49.3)
186
(50.7)
Yes
2583
(86.8)
919
(35.7)
1664
(64.3)
Availability and accessibility of a pharmacy within your locality or village?
0.061
Not available nor accessible
222
(8)
91
(40.3)
131
(59.7)
Available only
568
(20)
166
(29.4)
402
(70.6)
Accessible only
179
(6.4)
38
(22.5)
141
(77.5)
Available and accessible
1977
(65.7)
801
(41)
1176
(59)
Availability and accessibility of a health center within your locality or village?
0.549
Not available nor accessible
95
(3.4)
33
(35.9)
62
(64.1)
Available only
434
(15.4)
136
(31.6)
298
(68.4)
Accessible only
148
(5.1)
52
(35.6)
96
(64.4)
Available and accessible
2269
(76.1)
875
(38.9)
1394
(61.1)
Availability and accessibility of a hospital within your locality or village?
0.689
Not available nor accessible
203
(7.1)
63
(27.8)
140
(72.2)
Available only
717
(25.2)
265
(36.5)
452
(63.5)
Accessible only
240
(8.2)
85
(35.9)
155
(64.1)
Available and accessible
1786
(59.5)
683
(39.3)
1103
(60.7)
SR : Saudi riyals in 2007; BMI : body mass index; WHO : World Health Organization;ℵ based on Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ); ◊ based on Geriatric Depression Scale; ,, and .
