Background: Non-compliance with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) results in recurrent seizures and visits to the emergency departments, leading to an increased social and economic burden, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence to AEDs and to identify the different factors which could affect medication adherence among adult patients with epilepsy.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study reviewed all adults with a diagnosis of epilepsy, who were treated at King Saud Hospital (Unaizah, Saudi Arabia) from June 2019 to November 2019. Medication adherence was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire which was developed based on the review of various literature works. All variables were calculated using frequencies and percentages. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were used with responses to medication adherence as the dependent and independent variables.
Results: From a total of 147 evaluated patients, 124 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. From all patients, 48% (n = 59) of them were non adherent to antiepileptic treatment. The most common cause for non-adherence was forgetfulness (64.5%), followed by the use of alternative therapies (10%). Younger age (≤35 years), the use of other concomitant medications, and a recent episode of seizure (≤1 month) were the significant predictors of non-compliance.
Conclusion: Non-compliance with AEDs was noted in nearly half of the patients and likely to be a major cause of treatment failure. Age, recent episode of seizure, and concomitant use of other medications were significant predictors of non-compliance with AEDs.
Key words: Nonadherence, epilepsy, antiepileptic medications, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
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