Objective:

To analyse the rate of therapeutic nonadherence in patients who experience early readmissions, and identify the factors associated with nonadherence.

Methods:

An observational descriptive 3-month study (March-May 2014), which included all patients more than 65 years who were readmitted between 3 to 30 days following the last hospital discharge. Exclusion criteria: programmed re-admissions and readmissions to the Intensive Care Unit. Variables included in the study: age, sex, medical service, major diagnostic category, polypharmacy, number of days since the last hospital discharge, and hypertension and diabetes. Therapeutic adherence and difficulty in taking medication were assessed using the Morisky-Green test and the Haynes-Sackett test, respectively. A descriptive analysis of the variables was conducted, showing they were associated with therapeutic adherence. Statistically significant variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression model.

Results:

In total, 57% of the patients were nonadherent to pharmacological treatment; 23% had difficulty taking their medication; 86% had comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes); 79% had a caregiver; and 86% were polymedicated (≥ 5 medications). There was an association between lack of adherence and difficulty in taking medications (P = 0.021), polypharmacy (P = 0.002), and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.018).

Conclusions:

Polymedication, diabetes mellitus, and difficulty in taking medication were shown to be prognostic factors of lack of adherence to treatment in patients more than 65 years.

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