Real-world evidence for herbal medicine benefit in 9728 type 2 diabetes patients-peridonotitis risk and ambulatory care utilization

Table 3 Comparisons of frequency and costs of periodontitis-related ambulatory care between two groups from the index date to the end of follow-up

	Users of medicinal herbs	Nonusers of medicinal herbs	P value
Within 1 year after periodontitis
Total visits of ambulatory care	10829	12602	< 0.001
Mean costs for per ambulatory care	55.36	60.66	< 0.001
1-3 years after periodontitis
Total visits of ambulatory care	15137	16810	< 0.001
Mean costs for per ambulatory care	51.92	70.33	< 0.001
3 years or more after periodontitis
Total visits of ambulatory care	19288	30846	< 0.001
Mean costs for per ambulatory care	50.56	107.30	< 0.001

Costs were transformed into USDs according to the exchange rate of 2013.