Self-Reported Non-adherence to Medication in Japanese Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

Non-adherence to medication is an important problem in cardiovascular treatment. The aim of this study was to assess self-reported non-adherence in Japanese patients with cardiovascular disease.

A total of 1372 outpatients at three university hospitals who completed self-reported questionnaires were analyzed in this prospective study (mean age 67 ± 12 years; 31% female). Self-reported adherence to cardiovascular drugs was measured with a modified Siegal scale. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥ 10.

A total of 227 patients (17%) were defined as non-adherent. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that ≥ 2 times daily dosing frequency, age < 65 years and active employment were significantly associated with non-adherence, with odds ratios of 4.42 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.02-6.48], 1.70 (95% CI 1.23-2.35) and 1.43 (95% CI 1.03-1.99), respectively. However, depression was not a significant factor in non-adherence.

Our study showed that self-reported non-adherence to medications was 17% in Japanese patients with cardiovascular disease in the university hospital setting. Daily dosing frequency, younger age and employment were significantly associated with non-adherence.

University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) no. UMIN 000023514.