Factors Affecting Medication Adherence in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND As the population ages, comorbidities among elderly patients are becoming a significant problem, due to associated risks and mortality. Medication adherence is crucial for controlling chronic diseases and improving patient outcomes; therefore, it is important to understand medication adherence among hospitalized patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to April 2024 in 2 tertiary hospitals in Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China. Patients were divided into 2 age groups: 45 to 60 years and over 60 years. Data were collected using a self-designed sociodemographic questionnaire, the 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), frailty scale, social frailty scale, and subjective cognitive decline questionnaire 9 (SCD-Q9). RESULTS A total of 963 inpatients were recruited, with 18.0% being middle-aged and 82.0%, elderly. The prevalence of medication adherence was 50.2%. Univariate analysis showed that medication adherence was significantly associated with place of residence, having relatives as medical personnel, physical frailty, social frailty, and subjective cognitive symptoms. Correlation analysis revealed that medication adherence was significantly negatively correlated with physical frailty, social frailty, and subjective cognitive symptoms. Binary logistic regression confirmed significant associations between medication adherence and physical frailty, social frailty, and subjective cognitive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study investigated medication adherence and its influencing factors among hospitalized patients with comorbidities in Anhui Province, China, identifying several influencing factors. Therefore, targeted interventions should be implemented by the government and relevant departments to improve patients' medication adherence.