Cross Sectional Study of Adherence to Prescribed Medications among Individuals Registered at a High Risk Clinic in a Rural Area in Bangalore, India

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributed 63% of the 57 million global deaths in the year 2008 and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) accounted for the maximum number of NCD deaths. For proper prevention and control of CVDs, it is important that patients strictly adhere to the prescribed drug regimens.

Objectives: To assess adherence to prescribed pharmacological medications among individuals registered at a 'rural cardiovascular disease - high risk clinic' in Bangalore and to identify the factors associated with adherence.

Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study included all patients registered at a cardiovascular disease high risk clinic at a private primary care centre in a village, near Bangalore during November - December 2009. A pre-structured interview schedule in the local language was administered to all study subjects. Morisky's Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) was used to assess adherence to medications.

Results: Out the 162 patients , 85 (52.5%) were females. Most patients had hypertension (45.7%) followed by those with hypertension and diabetes (30.2%). Sixty-five patients (40.1%) were fully adherent to the prescribed medications while 95 (58.6%) were partially adherent and 2(1.3%) were completely non-adherent. Age and the perceived expense of medications were found to be having statistically significant association with adherence. There was no statistical association between adherence and gender, educational status, occupation, religion, marital status, side effects of drugs, presence of care giver and number of drugs prescribed.

Conclusions: Only 40.1% were fully adherent to prescribed pharmacological medications. Perceived expense of medications and age appear to be factors that influence adherence.