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Medication adherence in the elderly population with chronic diseases: a factor analysis.
Doris Cardona1, Valeria Santacruz-Restrepo2, Alejandra Rendón-Montoya3
1Independent Researcher in a Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medellín, Colombia.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|December 29, 2025
Summary
Medication non-adherence affects 5.9% of older adults in Colombia, primarily due to pharmacological factors like inappropriate use and complex regimens. Addressing these issues is crucial for public health and healthcare system sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Elderly individuals often manage multiple high-cost chronic diseases, necessitating effective treatment adherence for condition management.
- Medication adherence is critical for older adults to ensure the efficacy of prescribed treatments and improve health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key characteristics influencing medication adherence among older adults in Colombia.
- To analyze sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacological factors associated with medication adherence in the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative, cross-sectional study analyzing medical records, prescriptions, and pharmacotherapeutic follow-ups of patients aged 65 and above.
- Statistical analyses included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods, employing factor analysis and controlling for confounding variables.
Main Results:
- Evaluated 42,601 older adult records, revealing a 5.9% medication non-adherence rate.
- Pharmacological factors, particularly inappropriate medication use and complex polypharmacy regimens, were most significantly associated with non-adherence.
- Administrative inefficiencies also contributed to medication non-adherence.
Conclusions:
- Medication adherence in older adults is a critical public health issue impacting health outcomes and healthcare system sustainability.
- Comprehensive interventions, including policy support for care continuity, medication access, and interdisciplinary collaboration, are essential.
- Viewing adherence as a collective responsibility can reduce complications, hospitalizations, and enhance the quality of life for the aging population.
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