title: Health Behaviors and Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationships of selected health behaviors to medication adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from Korean national health insurance claims between January 2010 and June 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged 65 years and older with hypertension (N = 662,170), hyperlipidemia (N = 244,702), or diabetes (N = 179,285).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medication adherence as a medication possession ratio from January to June 2011 as a dependent variable. The waist circumference (cm) and the body mass index (weight in kilogram divided by height in meter squared) as a marker for obesity. Smoking, drinking, and physical activity as main independent variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonobese patients, as based on the waist circumference, were more likely to adhere to their medication (by 8.9% for hypertension, 6.2% for diabetes, and 3.5% for hyperlipidemia). Current smokers were less likely to adhere to their medication (by 8.7% for hypertension and 6.8% for diabetes), and moderate and heavy drinkers were also less likely to show medication adherence for diabetes (by 12.9% and 6.4%). Mild physical activity was related to a 1.1% to 1.8% increase in the likelihood of medication adherence across the three disease groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion programs for self-care health behaviors of elderly patients should emphasize good medication adherence to achieve successful self-management of diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1 Euna Han, PhD, is with the College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Euna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: 2 Hyun Soon Sohn, PhD, is with the Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: 3 Ju-Yeun Lee, PhD, is with the College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Sangnok-gu, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Yeun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 4 Sunme Jang, PhD, is with the College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sunme
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: Elderly Patients, Medication Adherence, Smoking, Physical Activity, Heavy Drinking, Body Mass, Hypertension, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: research; Health focus: medical self-care; Outcome measure: behavioral; Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing; Setting: state/national; Strategy: education, skill building/behavior change, policy; Study design: nonexperimental; Target population age: elderly patients; Target population circumstances: education/income level, geographic location, and race/ethnicity