Short Lecture "Use of herbal medicinal products in the geriatric population – data from the PhytoVIS study"

Herbal medicinal products are used especially also in the elderly. However, scientific data on their use are still rare. The PhytoVIS study generated data from over 20,000 patients who had taken HMPs, including patients over 65 years. Parameters were analysed in two patient groups (66-75 years (group 1, n=1,865) and over 75 years (group 2, n=1,200)). The incidence of chronic complaints was much higher in both geriatric groups than in the total study population (n=17,805), e.g. memory impairment and arthralgia. Long-term use of the HMP was reported by 48% of the patients (group 1) and 56% (group 2), but only by 28% of the total population. The proportion of comorbidities was also significantly higher, i.e. 76.0% resp. 82.8% vs. 39.8%, as was the proportion of patients with co-medication. Most patients of both geriatric groups rated effectiveness as moderate to very good (CGI-E). The proportion of patients not noticing any impairment by side effects was slightly higher in group 1 (91.9%) and in group 2 (93.8%) as compared to the total population (91.2%). PhytoVIS data confirm the age-dependent increase of multimorbidity and polymedication. HMPs were well tolerated and had no or mild side effects, as e.g. mild GI complaints. For an ageing population, HMPs are therefore an important and safe therapy option with a good efficacy-tolerability profile, also for the treatment of chronic diseases.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Kooperation Phytopharmaka GbR, Bonn and to Esther Raskopf, Kija Shah Hosseini and Ralph Mösges, Cologne, Germany

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023