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Suboptimal medication adherence in Parkinson's disease.
Katherine A Grosset1, Ian Bone, Donald G Grosset
1Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom. d.grosset@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Summary
Suboptimal medication adherence is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), with one-fifth of patients underusing their drugs. Factors like younger age and depression are linked to poor adherence in PD management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Patient Adherence Research
Background:
- Suboptimal medication adherence is a widespread issue across various diseases.
- Limited evidence exists regarding therapy adherence challenges specifically within Parkinson's disease (PD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and quantify medication adherence rates in Parkinson's disease patients.
- To identify factors associated with suboptimal adherence in this population.
Main Methods:
- A single-center observational study utilizing electronic monitoring (MEMS) over three months.
- Data collected from 54 Parkinson's disease patients on their antiparkinsonian medication.
Main Results:
- One-fifth (20%) of the evaluable patients were classified as underusers (average compliance <80%).
- Poorer adherence significantly correlated with younger age, higher daily tablet count, increased depression scores, and reduced quality of life.
- Timing compliance was notably poor across both underusers and satisfactory adherence groups.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of Parkinson's disease patients exhibit suboptimal medication adherence.
- Younger age, depression, and polypharmacy are associated with poorer adherence in PD.
- Addressing drug therapy adherence is crucial for effective Parkinson's disease management.