Medication regimen complexity of coronary artery disease patients
Marlon Silva Tinoco1, Ronara Camila de Souza Groia-Veloso1, Jéssica Nathália Domingos Dos Santos1
1Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Insights
High medication regimen complexity in coronary artery disease patients is linked to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-adherence to treatment. Addressing these factors can improve patient management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacotherapy
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) patients often manage complex medication regimens.
- High medication complexity can negatively impact treatment adherence and outcomes.
- Identifying factors contributing to complexity is crucial for effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with high medication regimen complexity in patients with coronary artery disease.
- To inform strategies for simplifying medication management in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cardiology outpatient clinic.
- Sociodemographic, clinical (comorbidities, diagnoses), and pharmacotherapeutic (adherence, polypharmacy) data were collected.
- Medication regimen complexity was measured using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index.
Main Results:
- The study included 148 patients with a median medication regimen complexity of 17.0.
- Univariate analysis showed associations with heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, multiple diseases, and non-adherence.
- Logistic regression identified diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-adherence as significant factors (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- High medication regimen complexity in CAD patients is significantly associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
- Non-adherence to treatment is a key factor contributing to medication complexity in this cohort.
- Targeting these factors may help simplify medication regimens and improve care for CAD patients.
Objective:
To determine the factors associated with the high complexity of medication regimen in patients with coronary artery disease.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out in a multiprofessional cardiology outpatient clinic, in the Secondary Care of the Unified Health System, where sociodemographic (age, sex, and education), clinical (number of health conditions, cardiovascular diagnoses, and comorbidities) and pharmacotherapeutic (adherence, polypharmacy, and cardiovascular polypharmacy) characteristics were collected. These were related to complexity of medication regimen, measured through the medication regimen complexity index. The classification of high complexity of medication regimen was carried out using standardization for the older adults and stratification for adult patients, as suggested in the literature.
Results:
The total complexity medication regimen of 148 patients had a median of 17.0 (interquartile range of 10.5). In the univariate analysis, the factors associated with high complexity were heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, five or more diseases, and non-adherence to treatment. In the final model, after logistic regression, there was a statistically significant association (p<0.05) with the variables diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-adherence.
Conclusion:
The high complexity of medication regimen in patients with coronary artery disease was associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and reports of non-adherence to treatment.
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