Youth-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with early development of vascular complications. Treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia are critical to reduce morbidity. iCount examined adherence to blood pressure (BP) and lipid-lowering medications in young adults with youth-onset T2D (mean age 26 y, duration of T2D 12 y, BMI 37 kg/m2) and hypertension/nephropathy (n=196) or dyslipidemia (n=146) during the observational phase of the Treatment Options for type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY)2 study (2017-2019). They were receiving diabetes care in their communities. Adherence was assessed with 3 monthly unannounced phone pill counts at 2 times 1 year apart. Percent low adherent (<80% pill-taking) and high-adherent (≥80% pill-taking) did not change over time. Of participants with hypertension and/or nephropathy, 80.1% were low adherent, 19.9% were high adherent. Those who were low adherent had fewer years of education (p=0.004), higher HbA1c (p=0.001) and shorter diabetes duration (p=0.031). Of those with dyslipidemia, 93.8% were low adherent, 6.2% high adherent. Those low adherent to BP (p<0.001) and lipid-lowering (p≤0.008) medications were also low adherent to oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin. Beliefs that medications are necessary were lower for those low adherent to BP and lipid-lowering medications (unadjusted analyses); concerns about medications also were lower for those low adherent to lipid-lowering medications. In adjusted multivariable analyses of participants with hypertension or nephropathy, having ≥1 material need insecurity predicted medication adherence 1 year later (p=0.010). Belief about medicines, diabetes distress, self-efficacy, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and self-management support were not 1 yr predictors of medication adherence. To prevent early vascular events, approaches that further identify and address unmet needs should be studied.
P. M. Trief: None. R. S. Weinstock: Consultant; Jaeb Center for Health Research, Other Relationship; Wolters Kluwer Health, Research Support; Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Hemsley Charitable Trust, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. B. K. Burke: None. H. Wen: None. S. Kalichman: None. J. D. Bulger: None. B. J. Anderson-thomas: None.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK110456)