Adherence to osteoarthritis therapy: problems and solutions

Abstract

The article discusses the issues of adherence to therapy in general and adherence to therapy in patients with osteoarthritis. The importance of adherence to the drug regimen in patients with chronic diseases determines not only the success of the prescribed therapy, but also the economic costs of treatment. Among the factors determining the success of adherence, some authors single out the personality of the doctor, the characteristics of the patient’s behavior and the course of his disease. Also, a significant role in the continuation of taking medications is the fear of patients of possible side effects. Among patients with osteoarthritis, according to research data, there was a low adherence to both lifestyle modification (following recommendations for non-drug treatment) and taking medications. When studying a number of social aspects of adherence to therapy in patients with OA, a high influence of the environment was found. According to research data, the factors influencing low adherence to therapy in patients with OA are age, severity of pain, and trust in the doctor. High comorbidity also makes a big contribution to the adherence to therapy in patients with OA, which increases the number of medications taken by patients. To reduce the risk of abandoning therapy with symptom-modifying delayed-action drugs for the treatment of OA and increase adherence, especially in comorbid patients, a personalized approach and discussion (with emphasis on the effectiveness and safety of prescribed drugs) with the patient is necessary. Choosing to prescribe injectable forms of drugs from the group of symptom-modifying delayed-action drugs will increase adherence to therapy due to the peculiarities of the course of their use.