Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29196903›Full record

SynthesisDrugs & aging2017

Concurrent Use of Prescription Drugs and Herbal Medicinal Products in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Taofikat B Agbabiaka, Barbara Wider, Leala K Watson, Claire Goodman

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Drugs & aging, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 55 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
55citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
14.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

55 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 126 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Guideline
  4. Pooled it
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
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  9. Review
  10. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Hypoglycemic Effects ofFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Predicting Natural Product-Drug Interactions with Knowledge Graph Embeddings.AMIA Joint Summits on Translational Science proceedings. AMIA Joint Summits on Translational Science · 2025
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Taofikat B AgbabiakaCentre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC), University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. t.b.agbabiaka@herts.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-0211-7555
Barbara WiderInstitute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
Leala K WatsonInstitute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
Claire GoodmanCentre for Research in Primary and Community Care (CRIPACC), University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8938-4893
University of Exeter · GBUniversity of Hertfordshire · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe use of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) is common among older adults; however, little is known about concurrent use with prescription drugs, as well as potential interactions associated with such combinations.

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the literature on concurrent prescription and HMP use among older adults to assess prevalence, patterns, potential interactions and factors associated with this use.

methodsSystematic searches were conducted in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, Web of Science and Cochrane databases from inception to May 2017 for studies reporting concurrent use of prescription medicines with HMPs in adults ≥ 65 years of age. Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. And the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) three-stage approach to mixed method research was used to synthesise data.

resultsTwenty-two studies were included. A definition of HMPs or what was considered an HMP was frequently missing. Prevalence of concurrent use by older adults varied widely between 5.3 and 88.3%. Prescription medicines most combined with HMPs were antihypertensive drugs, β-blockers, diuretics, antihyperlipidemic agents, anticoagulants, analgesics, antihistamines, antidiabetics, antidepressants and statins. The HMPs most frequently used were Ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginseng, St John's wort, Echinacea, saw palmetto, evening primrose oil and ginger. Potential risks of bleeding due to the use of Ginkgo biloba, garlic or ginseng with aspirin or warfarin was the most reported herb-drug interaction. Some data suggest being female, and having a lower household income and less than a high-school education were associated with concurrent use.

conclusionThe prevalence of concurrent prescription drugs and HMP use among older adults is substantial and potential interactions have been reported. Knowledge of the extent and manner in which older adults combine prescription drugs will aid healthcare professionals in appropriately identifying and managing patients at risk. Systematic Review Registration Number: PROSPERO 2014:CRD42014009091.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsFemaleHerb-Drug InteractionsHumansMalePhytotherapyPlant PreparationsPrescription DrugsPlant PreparationsPrescription Drugs

Identifiers

PMID29196903
PMCPMC5730633
OpenAlexW2773883339

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.