Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Despite their side effects (SE), antidepressants (AD) are widely used among older adults. However, few studies have documented the occurrence of SE and their impact on AD intake among this population in real-world settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between SE and adherence to AD among community-dwelling older adults. Secondary data analyses of the third wave of the Étude sur la Santé des Aînés – Services study conducted between 2015 and 2017 was carried out among older adults recruited in waiting rooms of primary health care clinics in Quebec. Of the 845 participants who completed the third interview, 137 received an AD during the six months preceding the interview and were included regardless of the indication for which it was received. Adherence to AD was self-reported using the four-item Morisky Adherence Questionnaire. SE were also self-reported during the interviews from a list of 20 potential SE that may occur following AD use. Subsequently, SE were grouped into seven categories specific to seven organ or function systems. Multilevel logistic regressions were carried out to account for participants nested in primary healthcare clinics. Multivariable analyses were controlled for socio-demographic and clinical factors. The majority of participants were adherent (69.3%) and 30.7% were partially adherent to AD. Among all participants, 75.2% reported at least one SE. Dry mouth was the most reported tolerable SE (49.7%) and difficulty sleep was the most reported non-tolerable SE (5.1%) by the participants. The presence of SE related to the gastrointestinal system, nervous system and sleep disturbances were associated with decreased adherence to AD. In contrast, participants reporting palpitations were more likely to be adherents to therapy. Taking into account the severity of SE, participants reporting non-tolerable SE related to the nervous system were more likely to be partially adherent to AD. Those reporting non-tolerable gastrointestinal system se were more likely to be adherent to AD. This study highlighted the importance of considering SE when prescribing AD for seniors. Future studies need to include a larger sample and combine the self-reported information with data from health administrative databases to increase the validity of the results.
Author: Milan, Raymond
Institution: Université de Sherbrooke
Language: English
Subfield: Family Practice
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G1892699962
OpenAlex ID: W7201925202