AIMS To assess prevalence of, and factors associated with, medication adherence of young adults with youth-onset type 2 diabetes. METHODS Oral hypoglycaemia agent (OHA) adherence was measured with unannounced telephone… Click to show full abstract
AIMS To assess prevalence of, and factors associated with, medication adherence of young adults with youth-onset type 2 diabetes. METHODS Oral hypoglycaemia agent (OHA) adherence was measured with unannounced telephone pill counts, insulin adherence was self-reported. Those taking ≥ 80% of pills/insulin were classified "high-adherent," <80% of pills/insulin "low-adherent." Analyses included unadjusted, and adjusted linear and logistic regressions assessing associations of participant factors with adherence. RESULTS For people taking OHAs (N = 212, mean age 26 yrs, 67% women, 18% non-Hispanic White, 35% non-Hispanic Black, 41% Hispanic), 69.8% were low-adherent. HbA1c was lower in the high-adherent group (9.2%/77 mmol/mol vs. 10.0%/86 mmol/mol, p < 0.04). More non-Hispanic Blacks were low-adherent (85.7%) than Hispanics (60.2%) and non-Hispanic whites (55.3%, p < 0.002); 91.4% of participants without healthcare coverage were low-adherent vs. 65.5% of those with coverage (p < 0.004). After adjustment, gender (p = 0.024), race/ethnicity (p < 0.001) and healthcare coverage (p = 0.001) remained related to OHA adherence. For insulin (N = 192), 37% were low-adherent. HbA1c was associated with insulin adherence (low = 11.2%/99 mmol/mol vs. high = 10.0%/86 mmol/mol, p < 0.001) with and without adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Young adults with youth-onset type 2 diabetes, especially females, non-Hispanic Blacks and those without healthcare coverage, commonly had low-OHA adherence. Glycaemic control was also poor. Interventions to improve medication adherence are needed for this vulnerable group.
               
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