Evaluation of compliance with hypoglycemic and anti-hypertension treatments in Galicia (CumpleGa)

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of therapeutic noncompliance in diabetes and arterial hypertension in Galician community pharmacies (FC), identifying the factors associated with patients' non-adherence and perception of their treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, randomized study conducted in August and September 2016 among adult patients receiving treatment with hypoglycemic and/or antihypertensive drugs for at least two months with the same treatment regimen. Noncompliance was assessed with the administration of three questionnaires: Batalla, Haynes-Sacket y Morisky-Green, in one page of data collection that included the three questionnaires, as well as the demographic data of each patient.

Results: 31 community pharmacies participated in 27 pharmacies and collected 1,588 (sample size: 1,537) valid questionnaires: 778 (49.0%) females and 810 (51.0%) males, aged 67.6±11.1 years on average. The number of non-compliant patients at least in one of the three tests was 1,245 (78.4%). The average noncompliance was 42.6%. Treatment perception was negative for 35.6% of patients. 51.0% of patients ignore the complications of their illness, 33.1% forget to take their medication, and 29.5% do not believe their prescribed medications are suitable.

Conclusions: Noncompliance with the therapeutic guidelines for diabetic and hypertension medication in Galicia is high and affects nearly half the patient population.

Poor knowledge of the disease, lower level of education, multiple medication, pensioner age (elderly) and negative perception of medications seem to correlate with a higher prevalence of treatment noncompliance.