Adherence to medication and characteristics of Japanese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

• Published in: Journal of cardiology 2017-09, Vol.70 (3), p.238-243
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Tsuyoshi, MD, Shiga, Tsuyoshi, MD, FJCC, Omori, Hisako, MD, Tatsumi, Fujio, MD, Nishimura, Katsuji, MD, Hagiwara, Nobuhisa, MD, FJCC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adherence; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticoagulants; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy; Atrial Fibrillation - psychology; Cardiovascular; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - psychology; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Japanese; Male; Medication Adherence - psychology; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Warfarin - administration & dosage; Warfarin - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0914-5087; 1876-4738
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2016.11.009

Abstract Background Adherence to medication plays an important role in the prevention of morbidity and mortality in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. The aim of this study is to assess adherence to medication and risk factors for non-adherence in Japanese NVAF patients who are prescribed anticoagulants. Methods A total of 378 outpatients with NVAF who completed self-reported questionnaires were analyzed in this prospective study (mean age 69 ± 12 years; 26% female). Self-reported adherence to cardiovascular drugs including anticoagulants was measured with a modified Siegal scale. Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥10. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on several variables to analyze factors affecting non-adherence. Results In total, 291 (77%) of our patients received warfarin, and the remainder received direct oral anticoagulants. Fifty-two (14%) patients were defined as non-adherent. Univariate analyses showed that age