Health Behaviors and Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients. Issue 4 (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Euna; Sohn, Hyun Soon; Lee, Ju-Yeun; Jang, Sunme
• Is Part Of: American journal of health promotion. Volume 31:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Elderly Patients, Medication Adherence, Smoking, Physical Activity, Heavy Drinking, Body Mass, Hypertension, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: research -- Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing -- Study design: nonexperimental -- Outcome measure: behavioral -- Setting: state/national -- Health focus: medical self-care -- Strategy: education, skill building/behavior change, policy -- Target population age: elderly patients -- Target population circumstances: education/income level, geographic location, and race/ethnicity; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health Promotion; Health promotion; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.150205-QUAN-709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-1171

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the relationships of selected health behaviors to medication adherence. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: Data from Korean national health insurance claims between January 2010 and June 2011. Subjects: Patients aged 65 years and older with hypertension (N = 662, 170), hyperlipidemia (N = 244, 702), or diabetes (N = 179, 285). Measures: Medication adherence as a medication possession ratio from January to June 2011 as a dependent variable. The waist circumference (cm) and the body mass index (weight in kilogram divided by height in meter squared) as a marker for obesity. Smoking, drinking, and physical activity as main independent variables. Analysis: A multivariate logistic regression. Results: Nonobese patients, as based on the waist circumference, were more likely to adhere to their medication (by 8.9% for hypertension, 6.2% for diabetes, and 3.5% for hyperlipidemia). Current smokers were less likely to adhere to their medication (by 8.7% for hypertension and 6.8% for diabetes), and moderate and heavy drinkers were also less likely to show medication adherence for diabetes (by 12.9% and 6.4%). Mild physical activity was related to a 1.1% to 1.8% increase in the likelihood of medication adherence across the three disease groups. Conclusion: Health promotion programs for self-care health behaviors of elderly patients should emphasize good medication adherence to achieve successful self-management of diseases.