EVALUATION OF CONCOMITANT USE OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS AND HERBAL MEDICINES AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS AT A REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN KUNINGAN REGENCY

Abstract

The concomitant use of herbal medicines with antihypertensive drugs is common among hypertensive patients, particularly in settings where traditional medicine is widely practiced. However, evidence regarding its clinical implications in hospital-based outpatient settings remains limited. This study aimed to describe the patterns of concomitant antihypertensive–herbal medicine use among hypertensive outpatients and examine its association with blood pressure values and reported adverse effects in a regional hospital setting. A descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among hypertensive outpatients at RSUD 45 Kuningan in Indonesia. Sociodemographic characteristics, antihypertensive drug regimens, herbal medicine use, and reported adverse effects were collected through structured interviews and medical record reviews by trained interviewers. Blood pressure values recorded at the study visit were compared with the most recent values documented in the medical records prior to the visit. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed to explore the associations between treatment patterns and blood pressure parameters. More than half of the participants reported concomitant use of herbal medicines. Standard antihypertensive therapy was associated with lower systolic blood pressure values, whereas diastolic blood pressure values were lower in patients using herbal medicines concomitantly. Most patients reported no adverse effects, and no significant associations were observed between sociodemographic factors and concomitant use of herbal products. In conclusion, concomitant herbal medicine use among hypertensive outpatients was common and generally well tolerated; however, its clinical benefits remain uncertain ...