The influence of gender and psychological distress on adherence to prescribed medication

Background: The lack of adherence to drug therapy is a major problem; it can contribute to significant deterioration of disease and increased health-care costs. Improving medication adherence is a big challenge; there is no simple solution to the problem. It is thus essential to improve our knowledge of non-adherence (NA) and its causes. Aims: The aims of the thesis were to study the influence of gender and psychological distress on self-reported, intentional and unintentional non-adherent behaviour, and to investigate the reasons for NA. Methods: A population-based study that included a postal questionnaire was carried out in a cross-section of the general Swedish population (n=7,985, aged 18-84 years). The response rate was 61.1% (n=4,875) and current prescription drug use was reported by 2,802 participants. The questionnaire covered use of prescription drugs, NA to the drug regimens, reasons for NA, economic status, attitudes to drugs, and the presence of somatic or mental problems, and also included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire. Results: The results showed differences in various self-reported non-adherent behaviour patterns and reasons for NA between the genders. In most cases, these remained after controlling for confounders such as socioeconomic factors and attitudes to drugs that are known to differ between women and men. Associations were also found between symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and the presence of intentional or unintentional non-adherent behaviour (with a stronger average association for intentional NA), and between anxiety/depression and some of the reasons given for NA, e.g. adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Conclusions: Although it was not possible to confirm causal relationships, this thesis emphasises the effects of gender and psychological distress on NA. In summary, both gender and anxiety and/or depression influenced non-adherent behaviour and the reasons given for NA. For instance, ADRs seemed to influence the decision not to take the drug as prescribed, especially among women and participants under psychological distress. It is suggested that a deep understanding of the causes of NA and of the impact of gender and psychological distress on the outcomes would help those aiming to improve adherence to prescribed medication

The influence of gender and depression on drug utilization : Pharmacoepidemiological research in Sweden

Background Drug use has increased over recent decades, and is especially great among women and among people with mental health problems. To take advantage of the full potential of drugs and to avoid drug-related problems, drug prescription needs to be correct and the drugs need to be taken according to the prescribed regimens. Research on drug utilization is thus important to the public health. Aim To study the influence of gender and depression on drug utilization, prescription of drugs and self-reported use of drugs, i.e. adherence. Methods The thesis included two population-based questionnaires and data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (SPDR) covering Swedish citizens 18-84 years. The questionnaire in Study I and II included items on prescription drug use and adherence to treatment regimens; Study II also included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for self-estimation of anxiety/depression. The questionnaire in Study III included the HADS and data from the SPDR on prescribed antidepressants. Study IV included data from the SPDR on all types of prescribed drugs. Results Men and women differed in non-adherent behaviours and reasons for non-adherence, for example, men were more likely to report forgetting to take the drug, while women were more likely to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) as a reason for non-adherence. Further, both anxiety and depression were associated with non-adherence and with ADRs as a reason for non-adherence. In addition, men reported depression to a greater extent than women did but used antidepressants to a lesser extent, while women used antidepressants without reporting depression more often than men did, which may be a sign of under-treatment among men and over-treatment among women. Moreover, the associations between antidepressants and other types of drugs differed by gender; they were often specific, or stronger, in women than in men, which may be a sign of a gender difference in comorbidity between depression and other conditions. Conclusions Although the cross-sectional study design prevented confirmation of causality, the thesis found that gender and depression influence both prescription of drugs and adherence, and are thus important to pay attention to in clinical practice as well as research

Gender differences in the association between prescribed antidepressants and other prescribed drugs : a nationwide register-based study in Sweden

Background: People with depression are prescribed more drugs than people in general, partly due to comorbidity with other conditions. However, little research has been done on depression-related drug use from a gender perspective. Aim: Examine gender differences in the association between antidepressants, other drugs, and polypharmacy. Methods: Data on drugs dispensed October to December 2016 to all Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years were collected from the Swedish prescribed drug register. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine gender differences in the associations between antidepressants and other drugs. Results: For both men and women, associations were found between antidepressants and drugs for alimentary tract problems, respiratory problems, drugs for the blood, and drugs for the nervous system, analgesics, and polypharmacy. For many of the drugs, for example those for respiratory problems and analgesics, the association was stronger in women than in men. However, concerning drugs for the nervous system and polypharmacy, the association was stronger in men than in women. Furthermore, for women, but not men, associations were found for drugs for diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatological problems, and systemic hormones. Conclusions: Many of the associations between antidepressants and other drugs were found to be specific, or stronger, among women than among men. In some cases, however, the associations were stronger in men. Whether this indicates that men and women differ in comorbidity between depression and other conditions cannot be concluded based on this cross-sectional study. However, physicians should be aware that possible gender differences in comorbidity exist, and because comorbidity between depression and other conditions impairs the possibility of recovery, and decreases adherence, screening for depression could be valuable

Association between prescribed antidepressants and other prescribed drugs differ by gender : a nationwide register-based study in Sweden

Background: People with depression are prescribed more drugs than people in general, partly due to comorbidity with other conditions. However, little research has been done on depression-related drug use from a gender perspective. Aim: Examine the association between antidepressants, other types of prescribed drugs, and polypharmacy, by gender. Methods: Data on drugs dispensed October to December 2016 to all Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years were collected from the Swedish prescribed drug register. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between antidepressants and other drugs, by gender. Results: For both men and women, associations were found between antidepressants and drugs for alimentary tract problems, respiratory problems, blood, nervous system, analgesics, and polypharmacy. However, for women, but not men, associations were also found for drugs for diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatological problems, and systemic hormones. Conclusions: Associations were found between antidepressants and many other types of drugs for both men and women; indicating comorbidity between depression and other conditions. Further, some of the associations between antidepressants and other drugs were found to be specific among women. Whether this indicates that men and women differ in comorbidity between depression and other conditions cannot be concluded based on this cross-sectional study. However, comorbidity impairs the possibility of recovery; in the somatic condition as well as the depression. Thus, physicians need to be aware that the association between antidepressants and other types of drugs are more common among women than men

The influence of symptoms of anxiety and depression on medication nonadherence and its causes : a population based survey of prescription drug users in Sweden

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between self-reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, nonadherent (NA) behaviors, and reasons for NA to medication regimens. Methods: A population based cross-sectional study with questionnaire was performed in the general Swedish population. The participants were 2802 prescription drug users aged 18-84 years. The questionnaire covered use of prescription drugs, symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), various NA behavior types, intentional and unintentional, and various reasons for NA. Results: Symptoms of anxiety and depression, independently and in combination, were associated with unintentional and intentional NA, with a stronger association with intentional NA. Regarding the reasons given for NA, for example anxiety, independently or in combination with depression, was associated with a fear of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Depression, independently or in combination with anxiety, on the other hand, was associated with the actual development of ADRs. Conclusion: A cross-sectional design such as this does not allow assessment of causality derived from the results. However, the results indicate that patients experiencing symptoms of psychological distress are at increased risk of NA, especially intentional NA, and could therefore benefit from extra attention from the health care professional. Patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression should be identified and monitored for the development and/or fear of ADRs, in order to improve adherence to medication regimens

Women and men report different behaviours in, and reasons for medication non-adherence : a nationwide Swedish survey

Objectives The aim of the present study was to analyse gender differences in self-reported non-adherence (NA) to prescribed medication in the Swedish general population. We aimed to study unintentional and intentional NA as well as the reasons given for NA. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to a cross-sectional, random, national sample of people aged 18-84 years in Sweden (n=7985). The response rate was 61.1% (n=4875). The questionnaire covered use of prescription drugs, NA behaviourand reasons for NA. Results Use of prescription drugs was reported by 59.5% (n=2802) of the participants, and 66.4% (n=1860) of these participants did not adhere to the prescribed regimen. No overall gender differences in reporting NA were found. However, when analysing the various types of NA behaviour and the reasons for NA, different gender patterns emerged. Men were more likely to report forgetting [OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.65:0.92)], changing the dosage [OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.52:0.79)] and that they had recovered [14.3%, (OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.56:0.90)] as a reason. In contrast, more women than men reported filling the prescription but not taking the drug [OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.02:1.54)] and reported the development of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) [OR 1.89 (95% CI 1.37:2.59)] as a reason more commonly. The gender differences remained, in most cases, after controlling for confounders such as age, socioeconomic factors, medical problems and attitudes toward drugs. Conclusions Women and men have different patterns of NA behaviour and different reasons for NA. Therefore, if adherence is to be improved, a wide knowledge of all the reasons for NA is required, along with an understanding of the impact of gender on the outcomes.

Gender differences in the association between prescribed antidepressants and other prescribed drugs : a nationwide register-based study in Sweden

Background: People with depression are prescribed more drugs than people in general, partly due to comorbidity with other conditions. However, little research has been done on depression-related drug use from a gender perspective. Aim: Examine gender differences in the association between antidepressants, other drugs, and polypharmacy. Methods: Data on drugs dispensed October to December 2016 to all Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years were collected from the Swedish prescribed drug register. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine gender differences in the associations between antidepressants and other drugs. Results: For both men and women, associations were found between antidepressants and drugs for alimentary tract problems, respiratory problems, drugs for the blood, and drugs for the nervous system, analgesics, and polypharmacy. For many of the drugs, for example those for respiratory problems and analgesics, the association was stronger in women than in men. However, concerning drugs for the nervous system and polypharmacy, the association was stronger in men than in women. Furthermore, for women, but not men, associations were found for drugs for diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatological problems, and systemic hormones. Conclusions: Many of the associations between antidepressants and other drugs were found to be specific, or stronger, among women than among men. In some cases, however, the associations were stronger in men. Whether this indicates that men and women differ in comorbidity between depression and other conditions cannot be concluded based on this cross-sectional study. However, physicians should be aware that possible gender differences in comorbidity exist, and because comorbidity between depression and other conditions impairs the possibility of recovery, and decreases adherence, screening for depression could be valuable

Gender differences in the association between prescribed antidepressants and other prescribed drugs : a nationwide register-based study in Sweden

Background: People with depression are prescribed more drugs than people in general, partly due to comorbidity with other conditions. However, little research has been done on depression-related drug use from a gender perspective. Aim: Examine gender differences in the association between antidepressants, other drugs, and polypharmacy. Methods: Data on drugs dispensed October to December 2016 to all Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years were collected from the Swedish prescribed drug register. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine gender differences in the associations between antidepressants and other drugs. Results: For both men and women, associations were found between antidepressants and drugs for alimentary tract problems, respiratory problems, drugs for the blood, and drugs for the nervous system, analgesics, and polypharmacy. For many of the drugs, for example those for respiratory problems and analgesics, the association was stronger in women than in men. However, concerning drugs for the nervous system and polypharmacy, the association was stronger in men than in women. Furthermore, for women, but not men, associations were found for drugs for diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatological problems, and systemic hormones. Conclusions: Many of the associations between antidepressants and other drugs were found to be specific, or stronger, among women than among men. In some cases, however, the associations were stronger in men. Whether this indicates that men and women differ in comorbidity between depression and other conditions cannot be concluded based on this cross-sectional study. However, physicians should be aware that possible gender differences in comorbidity exist, and because comorbidity between depression and other conditions impairs the possibility of recovery, and decreases adherence, screening for depression could be valuable

Self-Reported Depression and Prescription of Antidepressants; does Gender Matter?

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Are men under-treated and women over-treated with antidepressants? : Findings from a cross-sectional survey in Sweden

Aims and method: To examine gender differences in self-reported depression and prescribed antidepressants (ADs). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess depression, and information on prescribed ADs was obtained from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Results: Depression was reported by 11.7% of the participants (12.3% men and 11.2% women). ADs were prescribed for 7.6% of the participants (5.3% men, 9.8% women). Among men, 1.8% reported depression and used ADs, 10.5% reported depression but did not use ADs, and 3.6% used ADs but did not report depression. The corresponding figures for women were 2.6%, 8.6% and 7.2%. Clinical implications: Men report depression to a greater extent than women but are prescribed ADs to a lesser extent, possibly a sign of under-treatment. Women are prescribed ADs without reporting depression more often than men, possibly a sign of over-treatment. Although the causes remain unclear, diagnostic and treatment guidelines should benefit from considering gender differences in these respects