An evaluation of homeopathic treatment and the outcomes in patients suffering from sinusitis for >=12 weeks in a usual care situ

Authors: Claudia Witt, Rainer Ludtke, Stefan Willich

Methods: Subgroup analysis including all patients with chronic sinusitis (ICD-9: 473.9; >=12 weeks duration) of a large prospective multicentre observational study population. Consecutive patients presenting for homeopathic treatment were followed-up for 2 years, and complaint severity, health-related quality of life (QoL), and medication use were regularly recorded.

We also present here patient-reported health status 8 years post initial treatment.

Results: The study included 134 adults (mean age 39.8+/-10.4 years, 76.1% women), treated by 62 physicians. Patients had suffered from chronic sinusitis for 10.7+/-9.8 years.

Almost all patients (97.0%) had previously been treated with conventional medicine. For sinusitis, effect size (effect divided by standard deviation at baseline) of complaint severity was 1.58 (95% CI 1.77; 1.40), 2.15 (2.38; 1.92), and 2.43 (2.68; 2.18) at 3, 12, and 24 months respectively.

QoL improved accordingly, with SF-36 changes in physical component score 0.27 (0.15; 0.39), 0.35 (0.19; 0.52), 0.44 (0.23; 0.65) and mental component score 0.66 (0.49; 0.84), 0.71 (0.50; 0.92), 0.65 (0.39; 0.92), 0.74 (0.49; 1.00) at these points. The effects were still present after 8 years with SF-36 physical component score 0.38 (0.10; 0.65) and mental component score 0.74 (0.49; 1.00).

Conclusions: This observational study showed relevant improvements that persisted for 8 years in patients seeking homeopathic treatment because of sinusitis.

The extent to which the observed effects are due to the life-style regulation and placebo or context effects associated with the treatment needs clarification in future explanatory studies.


Credits/Source: BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders 2009, 9:7