The impact of cardiovascular medication use on patients’ daily lives: a cross-sectional study

Introduction The management of multiple long-term medicines use in patients with chronic diseases creates a burden for patients. However, limited research is performed on patients’ experienced medication-related burden and its impact on daily lives. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of cardiovascular medication on different aspects of patients’ daily lives and to examine the differences of these aspects between adherent and non-adherent patients.

Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in two community pharmacies in the Netherlands. Patients (?45 years) using cardiovascular medication participated. Data were collected by means of the Living with Medicines Questionnaire (LMQ-2) measuring the burden of medicines use on patients’ daily lives. Two equally group-sized samples of patients non-adherent to prescribed medicines as assessed with pharmacy refill data, and patients adherent to prescribed medicines were selected.

Results In total, 196 patients participated (51% male, 71.0±10.6 years), of whom 96 patients were non-adherent to cardiovascular medication. Substantial proportions of patients experienced medication-related burden on different daily life aspects. This burden was mainly related to the acceptance of long-term medication use, medication-related concerns or dissatisfaction, the interference of medicines with social and daily lives, and the interaction and communication with health care providers. No statistically significant results were found when comparing the impact on patients’ daily lives between the adherent and non-adherent sample.

Conclusion Health care providers should acknowledge the impact of multiple long-term medicine use on patient’s daily lives and should make an effort to diminish patients’ medication-related burden by improving patient-provider relationships and by providing adequate treatment information incorporating patients’ individual circumstances and preferences. This may facilitate the integration of long-term medicines use in patients’ daily lives.