Patient Prefer Adherence. 2026 Jul 15;20:590211. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S590211. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Non-adherence is a major burden in chronic diseases. In dyslipidemia, cholesterol levels are causing approximately 2.6 million deaths each year worldwide, while up to 90% of dyslipidemic patients exhibit poor medication adherence to combination therapies, making it the leading cause of insufficient therapeutic response in dyslipidemia management. The Regional Determinants of Non-Adherence project investigates healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions, comprehension, and attitudes towards patient adherence in managing dyslipidemia, emphasizing geographical differences and their influence on patient beliefs and behaviors.
METHODS: This study was an online self-administered questionnaire targeting HCPs managing patients with dyslipidemia. Participants (cardiologists, endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, family medicine practitioners, general practitioners, nurses) were selected based on their specialties and experience. The survey was conducted across four regions: Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Middle East Africa Pakistan (METAP), and China.
RESULTS: Among 151 respondents, significant regional differences in perceptions of non-adherence to dyslipidemia treatment were observed. Globally, 42.6% of HCPs reported a 30% increase in mortality due to non-adherence. METAP respondents reported the highest awareness of adverse outcomes, while LATAM respondents highlighted socioeconomic barriers as primary challenges. METAP participants emphasized the importance of tailored patient education. Differences were also observed in the perceived efficacy of communication strategies, with respondents from METAP emphasizing the importance of tailored patient education. Additionally, disparities in local health authority support were found to influence HCPs' ability to manage non-adherence effectively.
DISCUSSION: Medication adherence is a global health concern with significant regional variations in HCPs' perceptions of factors influencing adherence to treatments, highlighting the need to consider regional and cultural contexts in future adherence strategies.
PMID:42473461 | PMC:PMC13380899 | DOI:10.2147/PPA.S590211