title: Determinants of non-compliance with lipid-lowering therapy in hyperlipidemic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to assess the determinants of non-compliance with a lipid-lowering therapy, a prospective study of the hyperlipidemic Korean subjects was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1019 patients was observed by 46 family physicians for the period of 1 year from January 1999 to January 2000. To ascertain the compliance associated with a lipid lowering drug (Simvastatin), we regularly followed up the hyperlipidemic patients at intervals of 4, 12 and 24 weeks. The criterion for evaluating compliance is to measure clinic attendance. Using a structured questionnaire, patients and physicians were asked about risk factors for the compliance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first 24 weeks of treatment, the lipid-lowering medication was continued by 52.3% and discontinued by 19.7%. The remaining 28% dropped out. Patient-related factors for non-compliance were young age, current smoker, lack of low fat diet and exercise, new user, no concomitant medication, and occurrence of adverse reactions. Physician-related factors for non-compliance were low patients' satisfaction with the physician, small number of hyperlipidemic patients per month and working in a relatively small hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance with the lipid-lowering therapy was relatively low and several factors for non-compliance were detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, Korea. youngkim@amc.seoul.kr
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunwoo
authors.forename: Hye Ree
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keun Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ho Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Cheol Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Sung
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeong Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Bong Yul
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Huh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D019821:Simvastatin