Medication adherence and quality of life among type-2 diabetes mellitus patients in India

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressively increasing metabolic disorder and a significant public health burden that demands immediate global attention. However, there is a paucity of data about adherence to antidiabetic drugs among patients with type-2 (T2)DM in Uttarakhand, India. Outpatient research reported that more than 50% of patients do not adhere to the correct administration and appropriate medicine dosage. It has been reported that patients with chronic diseases who adhere to treatment may experience improvement in quality of life (QoL) and vice versa.

Aim: To assess the adherence to antidiabetic medication and QoL among patients with T2DM.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. The Medication Adherence Rating Scale and World Health Organization QoL-BREF scale were used to assess medication adherence and QoL.

Results: Two hundred seventy-seven patients suffering from T2DM participated in the study. Their mean age was 50.80 (± 10.6) years, 155 (56%) had a poor adherence level and 122 (44%) had a good adherence level to antidiabetic medications. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, multiple linear regression analysis found patients who were adherent to antidiabetic medications had significantly higher mean overall perception of QoL and overall perception of health, with beta scores of 0.36 and 0.34, respectively (both P = 0.000) points compared with nonadherent patients.

Conclusion: There was an association between medication adherence and QoL in patients with T2DM. Hence, there is a need to plan awareness and counseling programs followed by regular follow-up to motivate patient adherence to recommended treatment and lifestyle regimens.