title: Factors influencing adherence to treatment in COPD patients and its relationship with disease exacerbations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Systematic treatment of COPD decreases symptoms and reduces the frequency of exacerbations and hospitalisations because of the disease. It is estimated that only 50% of patients use prescribed drugs systematically. The aim of this study was to identify the factors which can influence adherence to treatment of the patients who were treated due to exacerbation of COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire probe was conducted on 49 patients hospitalised at the Regional Lung and Tuberculosis Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland due to COPD exacerbation. The assessed variables were: quality of life and adherence to treatment 30 days after discharge from hospital in relationship with demographic factors, social status, disease and hospitalisation course, and relief after systematic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients assessed their health condition as poor and the disease as limiting their everyday social and occupational activity. 30 days after discharge from hospital the adherence rate to therapy was only 67%. There was an association between systematic treatment and the rate of exacerbations (P = 0.045) and hospitalisations (P = 0.005) but also clinical benefit after long-term treatment (P = 0.023). There were no associations between adherence to treatment and sex, place of residence, education or occupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of systematic treatment is the main risk factor for COPD exacerbations and hospitalisation rate. A subjective sense of relief after drugs is a factor improving patients' compliance.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiśniewski
authors.affiliation: porzen@gumed.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porzezińska
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruchała-Niedoszytko
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedoszytko
authors.forename: Jan Marek
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Słomiński
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jassem
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires