Pharmacological non-adherence therapy and associated factors among elderly from a philanthropic outpatient unit of Espírito Santo state, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the non-adherence frequency of drug treatment among elderly outpatients and to analyze associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 263 elderly patients from the medical specialties outpatient of a philanthropic hospital, located in the city of Vitoria, Espirito Santo state, Brazil. Interview was conducted using a structured script in three blocks that contemplated sociodemographic, health and lifestyle and medications used. To check the non-adherence to drug treatment, Measurement of Treatment Adherence (MTA) was applied. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test for categorical variables. The variables with p<0.05 in the final model of multiple Poisson regression were considered significant. RESULTS: The results showed a frequency of non-adherence to drug treatment in 26.7% of the sample. Non-adherence to drug treatment in this population was positively associated with lack of employment prior to retirement (PR=1.12; p<0.010); the presence of cognitive decline (PR=1.13; p<0.010) and poor eating habits (PR=1.12; p<0.005). CONCLUSION: With this study, it was possible to identify the factors associated with non-adherence to drug treatment in the investigated elderly and thus contribute to the knowledge of the socio-demographic profile, health and lifestyle and characteristics related to the use of drugs by this population.