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Published on: September 30, 2020
Medication adherence among geriatric outpatients prescribed multiple medications
Kang-Ting Tsai1, Jen-Hau Chen, Chiung-Jung Wen
1Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
|January 24, 2012
Summary
Poor medication adherence is common in older adults with polypharmacy. Factors like medication class number and cognitive status influence adherence, requiring targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Poor medication adherence (PMA) increases morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality risks.
- Polypharmacy is a key determinant of PMA and linked to adverse health outcomes in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of PMA in older adults with polypharmacy.
- To identify correlates of PMA in this population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline data from 193 older adults in Taiwan.
- Polypharmacy defined as ≥8 long-term medications or ≥3 physicians.
- PMA defined as taking <80% or >120% of prescribed medication.
Main Results:
- 19% of reviewed medications showed PMA; 34% of patients had no PMA, 32% low-level, and 34% high-level.
- Higher medication class number and use of alimentary, psychotropic, and hematologic agents correlated with PMA.
- Dizziness history and higher Mini Mental Status Examination scores were associated with low and high PMA levels, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing medication adherence in older adults with polypharmacy requires considering medication class numbers and specific high-risk drug classes.
- Physicians should routinely assess systemic factors like cognition and drug-specific characteristics such as side effects.
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