Medication Adherence in the Elderly with Chronic Diseases Referring to Academic Medical Centers of Ardabil, Iran in 2018

Background: Today, the medical world faces an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases. Medication adherence is an essential component of the effective treatment of such diseases and failure to it, especially in the elderly, has a negative impact on health. Objectives: The current study aimed at determining the level of medication adherence in the elderly with chronic diseases referring to academic medical centers in Ardabil, Iran. Methods: In the current cross sectional study, 222 elderly patients with chronic diseases (i e, musculoskeletal, diabetes, cardiovascular and renal conditions) referring to the clinics of Imam Khomeini, Fatemi, and Alavi hospitals in Ardabil in 2018 were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and the Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis with SPSS version 16. Results: The mean age of the elderly was 68.25 ± 7.65 years; 187 (84%) subjects had unsatisfactory medication adherence (score 6). The probability of satisfactory adherence to medication was higher in the elderly with higher level of education, but other variables such as age, gender, occupational status, income level, network of life, place of residence, marital status, and type of chronic disease had no significant effect on medication adherence. Conclusions: The high level of medication non-adherence in the elderly with chronic diseases is a matter of concern and it seems necessary to perform studies on the barriers to medication adherence in the elderly and solve them.