Self-reported compliance with drug therapy during the first SARS-CoV-2 Italian lockdown in patients with respiratory disease
Authors
Rosastella Principe, Loreta Di Michele, Alfredo Sebastiani, Daniela Savi, Claudio Perrone, Giovanni Galluccio, Claudia Giacomozzi
Abstract
Background. Low compliance with drug therapy in patients with chronic respiratory diseases was a well-known issue even before the coronavirus pandemic, but its causes are not yet fully defined.
Objective. To verify the adherence to drug therapy in patients with respiratory disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods. From June to September 2020, about 700 patients of the Forlanini Hospital who had been unmonitored during the March-May 2020 lockdown in Italy received a questionnaire during the pneumological check-up based on self-reported information on compliance with therapy during lockdown.
Results. 284 out of the 418 returned questionnaires could be used in this study: 179 patients (63.0%) responded positively to the continuation of therapy, 18 (6.3%) reduced the dosage of their medication and 82 (28.9%) interrupted the therapy.
Conclusions. The low percentage of patients that reduced their drug dosage may be due to an increased awareness of drug treatment benefits, and may also be ascribed to the Government healthcare strategy during lockdown.
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