Association of Self-Reported Medication Adherence with Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Elderly Patients: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

• Main Authors: Motoyasu Miyazaki, Masanobu Uchiyama, Yoshihiko Nakamura, Koichi Matsuo, Chika Ono, Miwa Goto, Ayako Unoki, Akio Nakashima, Osamu Imakyure
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: elderly patients; polypharmacy; potentially inappropriate medication; self-reported medication adherence; visual analogue scale
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5940

Background: Polypharmacy (PP) and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) cause problematic drug-related issues in elderly patients; however, little is known about the association between medication adherence and PP and PIMs. This study evaluated the association of self-reported medication adherence with PP and PIMs in elderly patients. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted using data collected from electronic medical records of 142 self-administering patients aged ≥65 years, excluding emergency hospitalization cases. Self-reported medication adherence was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Of the 142 patients, 91 (64.1%) had PP and 80 (56.3%) used at least one PIM. In univariate analysis, patients with a VAS score of 100% had a significantly higher number of female patients and ≥1 PIM use compared to other patients. We found no association between the VAS score and PP. In multivariable analysis, the use of PIMs was significantly associated with a VAS score of 100% (odds ratio = 2.32; 95% confidence interval = 1.16–4.72; <i>p</i> = 0.017). Conclusions: Use of PIMs by elderly patients is significantly associated with self-reported medication adherence. Pharmacists should pay more attention to prescribed medications of self-administering elderly patients in order to improve their prescribing quality.