IMPACT OF MEDICATION BURDEN AND MEDICATION REGIMEN COMPLEXITY ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus represents a major global health challenge, with poor glycemic control being highly prevalent despite therapeutic advancements. The increasing complexity of medication regimens, often driven by polypharmacy and multimorbidity, imposes a significant burden on patients and may undermine adherence and treatment effectiveness. This study examined the impact of medication burden and regimen complexity on glycemic control among adults with diabetes. A two-phase approach was employed: a systematic review and meta-analysis of international studies, and a cross-sectional analysis using data from 710 patients attending Qatar's Primary Health Care Corporation clinics. The systematic review of 12 studies demonstrated that higher medication regimen complexity was consistently associated with poor glycemic control, lower adherence, and increased treatment burden (pooled aOR = 0.18; 95% CI 0.07-0.47). In the Qatar cohort, medication burden showed no significant effect on glycemic control, whereas higher diabetes-specific Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) scores were linked to uncontrolled HbA1c. The finding suggest that simplifying medication regimens may improve adherence and ultimately glycemic outcomes.