Impact of depression and anxiety disorders on adherence to oral hypoglycemics in older adults with diabetes mellitus in Canada.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in Canada, and nonadherence to oral hypoglycemics is a common problem among older adults. This study aims to document the impact of depression and anxiety disorders on adherence to oral hypoglycemics in older adults with diabetes mellitus. Data used in this study came from the longitudinal Quebec survey on senior's health (Enquête sur la Santé des Ainés), using a representative sample of 2811 older adults aged 65 and over. The final sample for analysis consisted of 301 patients who received oral hypoglycemic pharmacotherapy. Medication adherence was measured with the medication possession ratio. An adapted version of Andersen's behavioral model was used to explain adherence to oral hypoglycemic medication while considering the following predisposing factors: age, gender, and level of education: enabling factors: marital status and income level: and need factors: physical and mental health status. Our explanatory model of oral hypoglycemic medication adherence was tested using a latent growth curve model. The results of the multiple-group analysis did not show any significant difference in oral hypoglycemic medication adherence (p > 0.05). Furthermore, individuals with higher levels of education were less adherent to oral hypoglycemics than those with lower levels of education (p < 0.05). Medication adherence to oral hypoglycemics did not show any significant difference between participants with and without depression and anxiety disorders. Future studies with larger samples are needed to fully explore the association between mental disorders and oral hypoglycemic medication adherence in the older adult populations.