Prevalence, factors influencing and knowledge about adherence to lipid-lowering therapy among hyperlipidemia patients
- Author:
Navin Kumar Devaraj
;
Mohazmi Mohamed
;
Norita Hussein
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Adherence;
hyperlipidaemia;
lipid lowering therapy;
knowledge;
prevalence
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2017;72(3):157-164
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
background: Hyperlipidaemia is a significant risk factor for
cardiovascular disease. However, adherence to lipidlowering
therapy is often unsatisfactory due to a
combination of patient factors, therapy, socio-economic and
health system-related factors.
Aims: to identify the prevalence of adherence to lipidlowering
therapy, the factors contributing to non-adherence
and knowledge regarding hyperlipidaemia and its’ treatment
among Malaysian patients with hyperlipidemia.
Methods: A quantitative study using a cross-sectional
survey was carried out in an urban primary care clinic in
August 2015. Patients on lipid-lowering therapy for ≥ 1 year
aged ≥ 18 years were selected using simple random
sampling. consenting patients answered a selfadministered
questionnaire (in Malay/English) which
included socio-demographic profile, hyperlipidaemia profile,
adherence to lipid-lowering therapy (using the Morisky
Medication Adherence scale-8; score ≥ 6 taken as adherent),
reasons leading to non-adherence, knowledge regarding
hyperlipidaemia and its’ treatment, and use of non-allopathic
medicine.
results: the response rate was 90.7%. the prevalence of
adherence to lipid-lowering therapy was 82.4%. “the most
common reasons for non-adherence was being worried
about side effect of lipid-lowering agent (71.4%), followed by
the need to take too many drugs in a day (61.4%) and
negative influences by friends, relative and mass media
(60%)”. Factors associated with non-adherence include male
gender, on longer duration of therapy, less frequency of
follow-up, less number of follow-up clinics, taking
medication at night/random timing and having lower
knowledge scores.
conclusion: Overall the prevalence of adherence was high
in patients with hyperlipidaemia. Interventions to boost
adherence should target those who were identified as non-adherent.
