Social Determinants of Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in the All of Us Cohort

This study aimed to examine the social determinants of health (SDH) associated with Cost-related medication nonadherence (CRMNA).

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the All of Us Research Program to identify SDH features associated with CRMNA. CRMNA include inability to afford prescription medication, skipped doses, reduced dosage, selection of lower-cost alternatives, use of alternative therapies, purchasing medications from another country, and delayed prescription filling. A network analysis using the Fruchterman-Reingold algorithm was performed to visualize correlations among SDH features and CRMNA. SDH variables most strongly correlated with CRMNA were analyzed using binary logistic regression to estimate their association with each CRMNA, adjusting for demographic variables.

According to the network analysis, the SDH features most frequently associated with CRMNAs include housing problems, worries about food insecurity, and experiencing poor attention by healthcare professionals. In the adjusted binary logistic regression model, Individuals who reported concerns about food not lasting were more than twice as likely to report overall CRMNA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.29; 95% CI: 2.19-2.40; p < 0.05). Other significant SDH predictors of CRMNA included feeling unheard by a doctor (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.50-1.69; p < 0.05), experiencing housing problems (AOR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.36-1.46; p < 0.05), and reporting perceived discrimination (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.32-1.40; p < 0.05).

This study highlights the multifaceted impact of SDH on CRMNA, emphasizing the critical roles of food insecurity, housing problem, and negative healthcare experiences in shaping medication adherence behaviors.