Relationship between adherence to oral antidiabetic drugs and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Poor adherence to oral antidiabetic drugs (Adh-OAD) is a risk factor for poor control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, it is necessary to quantify the Adh-OAD. This quantification is possible through electronic dispensing records from the community pharmacy. The objective was to evaluate the influence of the Adh-OAD on the control of T2DM and the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin (%HbA1c) in the patient.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted in 8 community pharmacies in Granada (Spain). Patients older than 18 years with T2DM and on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) for at least 6 months were included. The main study variables were the control of T2DM, %HbA1c, and the Adh-OAD considering three cut-off points (≥80%, ≥70%, ≥60%). This relationship was studied using multivariate binary logistic regression and multivariate linear regression, respectively.

Results: A total of 107 patients were included. The mean age was 70.5 years (SD: 9.7), and 54.2% were men. Eighty-five patients (79.4%) had well-controlled T2DM (mean %HbA1c: 6.5%; SD=0.6). Considering Adh-OAD≥80%, 13.1% (n=14) had a poor adherence and was related to the %HbA1c (β=0.742; p=0.007) and the control of T2DM (OR: 7.327; 95% CI: 1.302-41.241). Poor adherence was found in 9.3% (n=10) considering Adh-OAD≥70% and in 3.7% (n=4) considering Adh-OAD≥60%. In both cases, a statistically significant relationship was found between Adh-OAD and the %HbA1c and between Adh-OAD and the control of T2DM.

Conclusions: Adh-OAD influenced the %HbA1c in patients with T2DM and the control of their disease.