Adherence to Medications in Patients with Ischaemic Heart Disease in Oman.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the level of adherence to medication among patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Oman and assess the related factors. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among patients with IHD attending the outpatient clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, was performed between January and December 2021. A total of 105 patients (mean age = 49.9 ± 11.1 years, 78.1% male) were recruited. Most of the patients (80%) reported taking the medications by themselves; 77 (73.3%) patients said that over the preceding 2 weeks, they had missed at least 3 doses of their medication. The reasons for missing the medications included forgetting (100%), having to take too many tablets (57%), feeling that the tablets are not effective (48%) and having to take the tablets too often each day (23%). The factors responsible for patients failing to take medications could not be identified. Medication adherence was low among patients with IHD in Oman, with high pill burden being the most common reason for non-adherence. Physicians must bear this in mind when reviewing patients.