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. 2013 Dec;47(6):1092-101.
doi: 10.1590/s0034-8910.2013047004834.

[Factors associated with low adherence to medication in older adults]

[Article in Portuguese]
Noemia Urruth Leão Tavares, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi, Elaine Thumé, Luiz Augusto Facchini, Giovanny Vinícius Araújo de França, Sotero Serrate Mengue

[Factors associated with low adherence to medication in older adults]

[Article in Portuguese]
Noemia Urruth Leão Tavares et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with low adherence to pharmacotherapy in older adults.

METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based study, with a representative sample of 1,593 individuals aged 60 or older, living in the urban area of Bagé, RS, Southern Brazil, in 2008. A multiple stage sampling model was used. The data were collected through individual household interviews. The analyses of the association between low adherence regarding pharmacotherapy, measured using the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ), and demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, health, assistance and prescription factors were carried out applying Poisson regression model to assess crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, their respective 95% confidence intervals and p-value (Wald test).

RESULTS: Around 78.0% of individuals reported have taken at least one medication in the seven days prior to the interview. Of these, approximately one third (28.7%) were considered to have low adherence to the treatment. The factors significantly associated to low adherence to treatment were: age (65 to 74 years old), not having health insurance, having to purchase (totally or partially) their own medicines, having three or more morbidities, having functional disabilities and using three or more medicines.

CONCLUSIONS: The increased use of medicines by older adults, because of the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases in this group, and the access to the treatment need to be considered by health care professionals regarding fostering adherence to treatment, which increases therapeutic solutions and quality of life among older people.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Hierarchized model to analyze the factors associated with adherence to treatment in older adults. Bagé, RS, Southern Brazil, 2008.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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