Diego Infante-Ventura, Benjamín Rodríguez-Díaz, Miguel Ángel García Bello, Cristina Valcárcel-Nazco, Francisco Estupiñán-Romero, Francisco Javier Acosta Artiles, Beatriz González de León, Isabel Hurtado-Navarro, Tasmania del Pino-Sedeño

ABSTRACT

Background

Non-adherence to antidepressants is a common problem that can significantly impact health outcomes in patients with depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to assess antidepressant adherence rates and identify factors associated with non-adherence in a population-based cohort of patients with depressive disorders, using real-world data.

Methods

This retrospective, population-based cohort study used real-world data from patients diagnosed with depression in the Canary Islands, Spain, between 2013 and 2021. Adherence to antidepressants was assessed using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) over a 12-month follow-up period. Patients were classified as adherent if they had an MPR ≥ 0.8. To assess the association with sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables, multivariate logistic regression models were performed.

Results

Among the 39,800 patients included, the overall adherence rate to antidepressants was 31.02 %. Older age, female sex, and the presence of multiple comorbidities were significantly associated with higher adherence rates. In contrast, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as inadequate nutrition, were significantly linked with lower adherence.

Conclusion

Non-adherence to antidepressants is a highly prevalent problem in patients with depressive disorders. The findings of this study highlight the importance of identifying factors that influence adherence and developing specific interventions to improve treatment outcomes in this population.

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