Factors associated with medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Muguruza Tamara A.J.; Mateus Farías P.K. · Revista Cubana de Medicina Militar (2026)

Resumen

Introduction: Metabolic diseases are becoming increasingly relevant to public health, which is reflected in the increase in chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Objective: To determine the factors associated with adherence to pharmacological treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 228 diabetic patients. The variables studied were: level of knowledge about diabetes mellitus, level of treatment adherence, age, sex, educational level, disease duration, and route of drug administration. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages, and bivariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test, considering significance when p < 0.05. A Poisson regression model with robust variance was applied for multivariate analysis, reporting crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A significant association was found between an inadequate level of knowledge and low adherence to treatment (PRa: 1.27; 95% CI [1.080–1.501]). Protective factors for treatment adherence included educational level (PRa: 0.77; 95% CI [0.657–0.904]), the route of administration (PRa: 0.77; 95% CI [0.660–0.909]), the duration of illness (PRa: 0.84; 95% CI [0.730–0.966]). Conclusions: The level of knowledge about type 2 diabetes mellitus is related to adherence to pharmacological treatment, making it a modifiable factor for improving disease control. Furthermore, the route of medication administration and the duration of the disease are also related to therapeutic adherence.

Instituciones: Universidad Ricardo Palma