Trend and Pattern of Herb and Supplement Use in the United States: Results from the 2002, 2007, and 2012 National Health Interview Surveys
Table 2
Changes of patient characteristics of herb and supplement users.
Patient characteristics associated with herb and supplement use
2002
2007
2012
Percentage change
Percentage change
Est.
%a
Est.
%a
Est.
%a
(2002 and 2012)
(2007 and 2012)
Took herbal preparations and dietary supplements, past 12 months
38,182,843
18.9%
38,797,215
17.9%
40,579,309
17.9%
−1.0%
0.0%
Age
18–64
33,929,605
20.0%
31,982,187
17.6%
33,260,541
17.8%
−2.2%***
0.2%
65+
4,253,238
13.2%
6,815,028
19.5%
7,318,768
18.2%
5.0%***
−1.4%
Gender
Male
16,153,313
16.7%
16,905,038
16.2%
17,972,393
16.4%
−0.3%
0.3%
Female
22,029,530
21.0%
21,892,177
19.5%
22,606,916
19.2%
−1.8%**
−0.3%
Race
White
31,584,163
19.2%
33,923,386
19.1%
35,054,977
19.0%
−0.2%
−0.1%
Nonwhite
6,598,680
17.7%
4,873,829
12.4%
5,524,332
12.9%
−4.8%***
0.5%
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic
34,319,989
19.1%
35,970,017
19.2%
36,717,730
19.0%
−0.1%
−0.1%
Hispanic
3,862,854
17.4%
2,827,198
9.7%
3,861,579
11.3%
−6.0%***
1.6%
Education
<12 years
3,501,656
10.6%
3,681,423
9.3%
3,523,914
9.2%
−1.4%
−0.2%
12 years
8,084,698
15.3%
8,031,004
14.3%
6,946,425
13.2%
−2.0%**
−1.1%
>12 years
26,596,489
23.0%
27,084,788
22.3%
30,022,074
22.2%
−0.8%
−0.1%
Annual family income
Less than $35,000
9,918,920
17.2%
9,616,154
14.2%
9,631,584
13.4%
−3.7%***
−0.8%
$35,000 or more
21,055,257
21.9%
26,073,787
20.5%
29,156,013
20.5%
−1.4%*
0.0%
Self-assessed health status
Excellent-good
34,065,198
19.3%
33,854,214
18.0%
36,342,227
18.4%
−0.9%
0.4%
Fair-poor
4,073,931
16.7%
4,931,346
17.2%
4,229,285
14.5%
−2.1%*
−2.7%*
Health insurance coverage
Yes
32,422,709
19.1%
33,401,786
18.6%
35,221,068
18.7%
−0.4%
0.1%
No
5,633,751
18.2%
5,279,896
16.4%
5,263,261
13.8%
−4.4%***
−2.6%
Could not fill prescription drug in past 12 months due to cost
Yes
3,912,807
26.9%
4,359,261
23.1%
3,931,622
20.9%
−6.0%***
−2.2%
No
34,231,673
18.3%
34,437,954
17.4%
36,643,776
17.6%
−0.7%
0.2%
Data source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2002 and 2007 NHIS Adult Complementary and Alternative Medicine File [20, 21]. Note: proportions based on weighted prevalence estimates, values for Wald chi-square tests.
aRow percentage. *. **. ***.
