Drug-related factors affecting medication adherence among Egyptian asthma patients

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate adherence to inhaler therapy in asthmatic patients and examine drug-related factors affecting medication adherence among Egyptian asthma patients. The study was carried out among 110 clinically diagnosed asthma patients attending at a university hospital, Sohag, Egypt. Inhaler criteria and adherence were evaluated by a standardized tool "Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS), 2008." Results The study revealed that out of 110 patients, 42.2% had a high level, 22.9% had medium level, and 34.9% had a low level of medication adherence. There was no relationship between demographic data and medication adherence in asthmatic patients. However, good adherence was frequently encountered among asthmatic patients who used inhaler twice daily, who used drugs its onset of action 5-20 min, who used aerolizer and turbo haler devices, and who used budesonide and budesonide/formoterol. Conclusions Poor adherence to inhaler therapy is high in patients with bronchial asthma attending Sohag University Hospital in Upper Egypt. There was a strong relationship between inhaled drug criteria and degree of adherence in asthmatic patients.