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Medication adherence issues in patients treated for COPD

2008; Dove Medical Press; Volume: Volume 3; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2147/copd.s3036

1178-2005

Ruben D Restrepo, Melissa T Alvarez, Leonard D Wittnebel, Helen Sorenson, Richard Wettstein, David Vines, Jennifer Sikkema-Ortiz, Donna Gardner, Robert L. Wilkins,

Asthma and respiratory diseases

Although medical treatment of COPD has advanced, nonadherence to medication regimens poses a signifi cant barrier to optimal management.Underuse, overuse, and improper use continue to be the most common causes of poor adherence to therapy.An average of 40%-60% of patients with COPD adheres to the prescribed regimen and only 1 out of 10 patients with a metered dose inhaler performs all essential steps correctly.Adherence to therapy is multifactorial and involves both the patient and the primary care provider.The effect of patient instruction on inhaler adherence and rescue medication utilization in patients with COPD does not seem to parallel the good results reported in patients with asthma.While use of a combined inhaler may facilitate adherence to medications and improve effi cacy, pharmacoeconomic factors may infl uence patient's selection of both the device and the regimen.Patient's health beliefs, experiences, and behaviors play a signifi cant role in adherence to pharmacological therapy.This manuscript reviews important aspects associated with medication adherence in patients with COPD and identifi es some predictors of poor adherence.