Antidementia drugs adherence in patients with dementia in Korea

초록

Objectives: This study examined medication adherence rate and associated factors with medication nonadherence in patients who had been diagnosed as having dementia through the nationwide project for early detection of dementia in South Korea. Methods: This study enrolled a total of 133 patients, who were diagnosed as having dementia through utilization of the CERAD-K, MMSE, SGDS (short form geriatric depression scale), CDR at the Namgu Dementia Center in Incheon, from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Telephone interview was done with principal caregivers of dementia patients at least 18months after they had been diagnosed. Out of 133 patients, 85 caregivers of patients responded to the telephone interview. Interview questionnaire was made to evaluate medication adherence and associated factors with medication nonadherence. The medical records of patients were also examined. Results: Of those 85 dementia patients, 62 (72.9%) patients were currently being treated with antidementia drugs, and the proportion of patients being treated at the psychiatric clinic was 54.8%. Medication adherent patients had significantly lower mean age (p<0.05) and higher satisfaction rate for the early detection program (p<0.01) compared with medication non-adherent patients. Causes of nonadherence were a disagreement with dementia diagnosis (28.6%), aggravation of physical conditions (19.o%), adverse effects of antidementia drugs (14.3%), burden for the cost of treatment (9.5%). Conclusion: The consideration is that inclusion in the process of making an improvement in stereotyping dementia patients may enhance a patient’s medication adherence in future programs for early detection of dementia.