Polypharmacy and its association with treatment adherence among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Cuernavaca, Morelos

• Autores: Palacios Beltran, Guadalupe, Toledo Hernández, Angélica, Albavera Hernández, Cidronio, Rodríguez Cortés, Pedro Francisco, Rojas Campos, Efraín
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2025
• Institución: Universidad de San Martín de Porres
• Repositorio: Horizonte médico
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:horizontemedico.usmp.edu.pe:article/3029
• Enlace del recurso: https://www.horizontemedico.usmp.edu.pe/index.php/horizontemed/article/view/3029
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Polifarmacia; Adherencia al Tratamiento; Adulto Mayor; Diabetes Mellitus; Polypharmacy; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Aged

Objective: To estimate the association between polypharmacy and treatment adherence amongolder patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods: A cross-sectionalanalytical study was conducted with a sample of 356 patients aged 60 years and older diagnosed with T2DM and treated at Hospital General Regional con Medicina Familiar N.˚ 1 (HGR/MF N.° 1 – Regional General Hospital with Family Medicine No. 1). After obtaining informed consent, the participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire. The eight-item Morisky-Green test was explained and subsequently self-administered under the supervision of an interviewer. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. The univariate analysis included measures of central tendency, frequencies and percentages; for the bivariate analysis, the Х2test and Fisher’s exact test were used. Results: The study analyzed a sample of 356 participants. Females predominated, accounting for 60.67 % of the sample. The most represented age group was 60 to 74 years (72.47 %). In terms of educational level, 75.84 % reported having completed basic education. Additionally, 62.64 % indicated they receivedfamily support. Concerning T2DM duration, 58.99 % reported living with the disease for 5 to 20 years. Treatment adherence was low in 38.20 % of participants, moderate in 30.62 % and high in 31.18 %. With respect to polypharmacy, 7.3 % were notexposed, 12.36 % experienced minor polypharmacy, 69.94 % moderate polypharmacy and 10.39 % major polypharmacy. Bivariate analysis revealed a statistically significant positive association between polypharmacy and low treatment adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.65, p = 0.007). Conversely, a statistically significant negative association was observed between family support and low treatment adherence (OR = 0.378, p = 0.001). Conclusions: A positive association (OR = 2.56) was observed between polypharmacy and treatment non-adherence.