Health behaviour of older adults with neurological disorders : predictors of nonadherence and influence on quality of life

Abstract

Medication is the cornerstone in treating chronic illness, yet up to 50% of older patients do not take their medication as prescribed. This nonadherence leads to worse health outcomes and lower quality of life (QoL). Only 21% of N = 910 older patients with neurological disorders reported to be fully adherent. Subtypes of nonadherence, namely forgetting to take medication, missing knowledge about medication, and intentional modification of medication, are differently influenced by clinical factors, but polypharmacy and depressiveness are core predictors. The depressive symptoms loss of interest, difficulty with concentration and fatigue connect nonadherence with other affective or somatic depressive symptoms. QoL is not linked with nonadherence when controlling for covariates; rather, both seem influenced by similar factors. Although cognition and polypharmacy play a role, depressive symptoms are drivers of nonadherence in this patient population and should be targeted in interventions.