Morbidity pattern, social safety net, and drug adherence level among geriatric patients attending in a health-care facility: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Financial support system available to geriatric populations affects their adherence level to the prescribed treatment leading to a rise in chronic disease burden. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to ascertain the disease pattern, health expenditure, and adherence to the prescriptions among geriatric patients reporting to a hospital in North India. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018. Patients who were 60 or above years in age, already diagnosed and were on treatment for more than 3 months were included in the study. A total of 310 patients were selected using convenient sampling method. Data were collected by a pretested and validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 66.16 years +/- 5.37 years (54.8% males). Monthly average family income was Rs. 15202.97 +/- 1134.63. Overall, 25% of the treatment cost was met through various social schemes (52% = pension scheme, 32% of patients had no such schemes and only 2% through health insurance schemes). Rest was out-of-pocket expenditure. Common diseases were hypertension (60.64%), diabetes mellitus (35.8%), cancer (28.38%), and coronary artery disease (22.58%). More than half (52.9%) of the patients had two or more illnesses; about 35.8% of them were taking treatment for 1-5 years. Moderate adherence was observed among the majority of the patients. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference in treatment adherence to the prescriptions was observed. CONCLUSION: Geriatric patients had many chronic morbidities. They had high out-of-pocket expenditure and suboptimal financial support affecting their level of adherence to the prescriptions.