Frequency of missed doses and its effects on the regulation of glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective analysis

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2024-04, Vol.103 (15), p.e37711
• Main Authors: Shiomi, Megumi, Takada, Tesshu, Otori, Katsuya, Shibuya, Kiyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognition; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Observational Study; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037711

This study aimed to investigate the association between medication adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for more than 48 weeks, as well as the factors affecting long-term adherence to OHAs. This retrospective study included 83 patients who had been receiving OHAs for T2DM for ≥48 weeks. Medication adherence values (MAVs) were calculated using the following formula: (total prescription days - prescription days of OHAs brought at admission)/(days from the initiation of OHAs to hospitalization). We assessed the association between HbA1c and MAVs using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Furthermore, we examined the association between patient- and medication-related factors and MAVs affecting HbA1c levels. Based on the results, MAVs were categorized as MAV ≤0.86 and MAV >0.86, and factors affecting MAVs were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the total number of medications, the number of nonhypoglycemic agents, and a family history of diabetes were independent determinants of MAV ≤0.86 (P