Determinants of medication non-adherence in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Sharkia Governorate

The aim of the study was to identify the determinants of adherence to medication among Egyptian patients with SLE. A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted among Egyptian patients with SLE. Adherence to medication was measured via The Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology-19, and the patients were classified as non-adherers if they were taking < 80 % of their medication correctly. Predictors of adherence to SLE medication were determined by multiple logistic regressions. The mean age of participants was 30.9 +/- A 11.7 years. Females constituted 95 % of all participants. Thirty-eight (%) were taking < 80 % of their medication correctly. On logistic regression analysis, the significant independent predictors of medication non-adherence were lower educational level (OR 5.6, 95 % CI 2.1-7.3, P < 0.001), very low and low socioeconomic status (OR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.6-4.3, P < 0.04), rural residency (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.4-5, P < 0.01), more number of medications (OR 3.2, 95 % CI 2.3-6.9, P < 0.01), and higher depressive symptoms (OR 3.7, 95 % CI 1.4-10.2, P < 0.001). The adherence rate reported in this study was quite low. Appropriate adherence enhancing intervention strategies targeted at reducing pill load, minimizing depressive symptoms, and ensuring an uninterrupted access to free services regimen for patients with low socioeconomic status is strongly recommended. More attention should be given to SLE patients who live in rural regions.