<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the current status on
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use for hospitalized
acute coronary syndrome patients in
China 's level 2
hospitals , and to explore associated factors of TCM use for these
patients .</p><p><b>
METHODS </b>This
survey was performed in 102 level 2
hospitals from 15 provinces or autonomous region in
China .
Patients admitted to these
hospitals with
acute coronary syndrome during September 2011 to May 2012 were eligible for this study. Information on TCM use was obtained from their
medical records .
Chi-square test and
logistic regression analysis were used to explore the related factors of TCM use in these
patients .</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We recruited 5 432
acute coronary syndrome patients in this study, TCM was applied to 3 503
patients (64.5%). Multivariable
logistic regression showed that pre-
hospital TCM use was positively related with in-
hospital TCM use (OR = 2.08, P < 0.01) , while pre-
hospital use of 4 medicines recommended by the guidelines(including
aspirin /
clopidogrel , β acceptor blocker,
stain and
angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor /
angiotensin converting enzyme receptor blocker ), being a
smoker and
diagnosis of
myocardial infarction rather than
unstable angina at
hospital discharge were negatively related with in-
hospital TCM use (the ORs were 0.58, 0.78 and 0.71, respectively, all P < 0.01). The TCM use varied significantly between regions. Taking southwest region as a reference, the ORs varied between 2.98-13.37 (all P < 0.01) in eastern
China , south
China , central
China , north
China , northwest and northeast regions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TCM is widely used in hospitalized
acute coronary syndrome patients in
China 's
resource -constrained level 2
hospitals . Pre-
hospital TCM use is positively correlated with in-
hospital TCM use for these
patients .</p>