Differences in medication compliance among elderly patients with asthma in Chicago

Medication noncompliance is one of many factors that lead to the sub-optimal management of asthma in elderly patients. Several hypotheses as to why elderly patients are non-compliant have been made including multiple medical problems requiring numerous prescriptions and the high cost of prescription...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2004-02, Vol.113 (2), p.S276-S276
Main Authors: Saltoun, C.A., Story, R.E., Grammer, L.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Medication noncompliance is one of many factors that lead to the sub-optimal management of asthma in elderly patients. Several hypotheses as to why elderly patients are non-compliant have been made including multiple medical problems requiring numerous prescriptions and the high cost of prescription medications. Our study compares medication non-compliance rates in two different populations of elderly patients with asthma in an effort to better understand the obstacles to appropriate management of asthma in elderly patients. Surveys regarding asthma symptoms and treatment were given to two distinct groups of elderly individuals with asthma. The first group was recruited from senior centers subsidized by the Chicago Department on aging catering to disadvantaged seniors. The second group was recruited from Northwestern University's Aging Research Registry and although these individuals represent a spectrum of incomes, they all entered the registry through their healthcare providers. From a total of 86 disadvantaged participants with asthma, only 24 (28%) took their prescribed medications on a regular basis. From a total of 35 registry participants with asthma, 28 (80%) took their medications on a regular basis. All but 12 (34%) of the registry participants had either a prescription plan or senior discount for obtaining their medications. Although medication non-compliance is common in elderly patients with asthma, our survey results suggest that good access to healthcare and a prescription coverage plan that helps cover the cost of medications improves compliance.
ISSN:0091-6749
1097-6825
DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2004.01.466