Medication Adherence and Glycemic Control among Elderly Diabetes Patients

Abstract

Background: Elderly diabetic patients are urged to take their medications consistently in order to maintain glycemic control. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 01 January – 31 December, 2022 to assess medication adherence and glycemic control among elderly diabetes patients and to explore relation between them. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted conveniently on 300 elderly diabetes patients from Khulna Diabetic Hospital, Khulna. Data were collected by face-to-face interview and by reviewing medical documents using pretested semi structured questionnaire. Medication adherence was assessed by Morisky Medication Adherence-8 scale. Results: The age range was 60 to 84 years. The respondents were mostly female (57%), Muslims (91.3%), married (74.3%), housewives (52%), from nuclear families (57.7%), educated up to primary level (30.7%), positive family history for diabetes (53.3%), without complications of diabetes (70.3%), with comorbidities (78%). Most of them took both insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (46.3%), faced difficulties to afford to buy medications sometimes (44.3%), took less medicines due to cost (31.7%), had exercise regularly (53.7%), followed recommended diet chart partially (44%), checked blood sugar regularly (58%). Medication adherence was low among 46.3% respondents and 62% had uncontrolled post prandial blood sugar. Medication adherence was related to affordability of cost of medicine (p<0.001) & others. Glycemic control was related to mostly following of recommended diet (p<0.001), regularity of blood glucose checking (p<0.001) and to other variables. Medication adherence and glycemic control are associated (p<0.05). Conclusion: Strategies, like counselling, health education etc. may be used by doctors, nurses and other health personnel to increase elderly population's adherence to anti-diabetic medication. Government should focus on public health strategies for wider educational program targeting medication adherence in elderly diabetes patients in Bangladesh.