title: [Adherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: A close collaboration between doctor and patient is essential for optimization of treatment outcomes in patients with chronic disease. Nonadherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may contribute to treatment failure and result in loss of joint function. The aim of the study was to evaluate adherence to prescribed drug therapy by patients with RA 6 months after hospital discharge. The influence of age, sex, level of education and DAS28 score on compliance with treatment regimen was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A telephone survey was conducted using a questionnaire. The survey involved 146 randomly selected patients who were previously treated at the Department of Rheumatology for worsening of rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients gave their consent for participation in the survey. 113 (82.5%) of the respondents reported good compliance /adherence with the DMARD treatment regimen. 24 (17.5%) of the patients did not take prescribed medications, primarily due to adverse side effects and, less commonly, due to ineffective treatment or lack of clinical symptoms, and also for financial reasons. Age, sex, level of education and DAS28 score did not significantly influence medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the patients treated for RA are followed up at rheumatology outpatient clinics and they continue treatment with DMARDs after discharge from hospital. Adverse side effects are the main cause of a change or discontinuation of the treatment.
authors.forename: Anetta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrzanowska
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batko
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hajdyła-Banaś
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banaś
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krezelok
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ludwin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents