OBJECTIVE: This was a cross-sectional study of the ability of independently living healthy elders to follow a medication regimen. Participants were divided into a group with High Cognitive Function (HCF) or Low Cognitive Function (LCF) based on their scores on the ADAS-Cog. METHOD: Thirty-eight participants aged 65 or older and living independently in the community followed a twice-daily vitamin C regimen for 5 weeks. Adherence was measured using an electronic 7-day pillbox. RESULTS: The LCF group had significantly poorer total adherence than the HCF group (LCF: 63.9 +/- 11.2%, HCF: 86.8 +/- 4.3%, t( 36) = 2.57, p = .007), and there was a 4.1 relative risk of non-adherence in the LCF group as compared to the HCF group. DISCUSSION: This study has important implications for the conduct of clinical drug trials, as it provides strong evidence that even very mild cognitive impairment in healthy elderly has a detrimental impact on medication adherence.
OBJECTIVE: This was a cross-sectional study of the ability of independently living healthy elders to follow a medication regimen. Participants were divided into a group with High Cognitive Function (HCF) or Low Cognitive Function (LCF) based on their scores on the ADAS-Cog. METHOD: Thirty-eight participants aged 65 or older and living independently in the community followed a twice-daily vitamin C regimen for 5 weeks. Adherence was measured using an electronic 7-day pillbox. RESULTS: The LCF group had significantly poorer total adherence than the HCF group (LCF: 63.9 +/- 11.2%, HCF: 86.8 +/- 4.3%, t( 36) = 2.57, p = .007), and there was a 4.1 relative risk of non-adherence in the LCF group as compared to the HCF group. DISCUSSION: This study has important implications for the conduct of clinical drug trials, as it provides strong evidence that even very mild cognitive impairment in healthy elderly has a detrimental impact on medication adherence.
Authors: Brian T Agganis; Daniel E Weiner; Lena M Giang; Tammy Scott; Hocine Tighiouart; John L Griffith; Mark J Sarnak Journal: Am J Kidney Dis Date: 2010-07-29 Impact factor: 8.860
Authors: Mary Sano; Susan Egelko; Steven Ferris; Jeffrey Kaye; Tamara L Hayes; James C Mundt; Michael Donohue; Sarah Walter; Shelly Sun; Luis Sauceda-Cerda Journal: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord Date: 2010 Jul-Sep Impact factor: 2.703