Adherence to levothyroxine treatment among patients with hypothyroidism in Oman: a national cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of patients with hypothyroidism in Oman (N = 400).

Characteristic	n (%)
Age in years
Mean ± SD	41.9 ± 12.4
Range	18–78
Gender
Male	39 (9.8)
Female	361 (90.3)
Marital status
Single	47 (11.8)
Married	325 (81.3)
Widowed	19 (4.8)
Divorced	9 (2.3)
Education level
Illiterate	62 (15.5)
Primary	75 (18.8)
Secondary	147 (36.8)
Undergraduate	111 (27.8)
Postgraduate	5 (1.3)
Employment status
Employed	87 (21.8)
Unemployed	278 (69.5)
Retired	25 (6.3)
Student	10 (2.5)
Monthly income in OMR
≤500	157 (39.3)
501–1,000	159 (39.8)
>1,000	84 (21.0)
Region of residence
Muscat	84 (21.0)
North Batinah	78 (19.5)
South Batinah	47 (11.8)
Al Buraimi	8 (2.0)
Ad Dakhiliyah	53 (13.3)
Al Dhahirah	24 (6.0)
Dhofar	36 (9.0)
North Ash Sharqiyah	38 (9.5)
South Ash Sharqiyah	24 (6.0)
Musandam	4 (1.0)
Al Wusta	4 (1.0)

Abbreviation. OMR, Omani riyals.

Table 2. Relationship between level of adherence to levothyroxine treatment and sociodemographic characteristics among patients with hypothyroidism in Oman (N = 400).

Characteristic	Level of DA, n (%)			p value
	High (n = 104)	Medium (n = 139)	Low (n = 157)
Age in years
18–40	49 (12.3)	61 (15.3)	83 (20.8)	0.293
>40	55 (13.8)	78 (19.5)	74 (18.5)
Gender
Male	11 (2.8)	12 (3.0)	16 (4.0)	0.855
Female	93 (23.3)	127 (31.8)	141 (35.3)
Marital status
Married	79 (19.8)	115 (28.7)	131 (32.8)	0.286
Unmarried	25 (6.3)	24 (6.0)	26 (6.5)
Education level
Illiterate	18 (4.5)	25 (6.3)	19 (4.8)	0.531
Primary/secondary	59 (14.8)	76 (19.0)	87 (21.8)
Undergraduate/postgraduate	27 (6.8)	38 (9.5)	51 (21.8)
Employment status
Employed/retired	26 (6.5)	46 (11.5)	40 (10.0)	0.258
Unemployed	78 (19.5)	93 (23.3)	117 (29.3)
Monthly income in OMR
≤500	45 (11.3)	54 (13.5)	58 (14.5)	0.293
501–1,000	34 (8.5)	62 (15.5)	63 (15.8)
	25 (6.3)	23 (5.8)	36 (9.0)
Smoking status
Yes	2 (0.5)	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)	0.587
No	102 (25.5)	138 (34.5)	156 (39.0)
Alcohol consumption
Yes	1 (0.3)	0 (0.0)	1 (0.3)	0.407
No	103 (25.8)	139 (34.8)	156 (39.0)
Coffee consumption
Regular	45 (11.3)	48 (12.0)	52 (13.0)	0.221
Irregular	59 (14.8)	91 (22.8)	105 (26.3)
Exercise frequency
Regular	34 (8.5)	56 (14.0)	46 (11.5)	0.132
Irregular	70 (17.5)	83 (20.8)	111 (27.8)
Number of hours of sleep per night
0–6	37 (9.3)	56 (14.0)	55 (13.8)	0.609
7–12	67 (16.8)	83 (20.8)	102 (25.5)

Abbreviations. DA, drug adherence; OMR, Omani riyals.

Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8-Item). Use of the MMAS-8 Scale, content, name, and trademarks are protected by US copyright and trademark laws. Permission for use of the scale and its coding is required. A license agreement is available from MMAR, LLC., Donald E. Morisky, ScD, ScM, MSPH, Adherence to Levothyroxine Treatment among Patients with Hypothyroidism in Oman: A national cross-sectional survey.

Table 3. Relationship between level of adherence to levothyroxine treatment and disease-related clinical characteristics among patients with hypothyroidism in Oman (N = 400).

Characteristic	Level of DA, n (%)			p value
	High (n = 104)	Medium (n = 139)	Low (n = 157)
Number of years taking medication
>5	37 (9.3)	64 (16.0)	67 (16.8)	0.253
1–5	67 (16.8)	75 (18.8)	90 (22.5)
Regular follow-up
Yes	93 (23.3)	124 (31.0)	142 (35.5)	0.932
No	11 (2.8)	15 (3.8)	15 (3.8)
Received information about disease from doctor
Yes	56 (14.0)	93 (23.3)	89 (22.3)	0.078
No	48 (12.0)	46 (11.5)	68 (17.0)
Received information about the treatment from doctor
Yes	71 (18.8)	97 (24.3)	104 (26.0)	0.807
No	33 (8.3)	42 (10.5)	53 (13.3)
Avoidance of medication due to side-effects
Yes	17 (4.3)	18 (4.5)	22 (5.5)	0.754
No	87 (21.8)	121 (30.3)	135 (33.8)
Stopped medication due to symptom improvement
Yes	21 (5.3)	28 (7.0)	31 (7.8)	0.995
No	83 (20.8)	111 (27.8)	126 (31.5)
Comorbidities
Yes	42 (10.5)	48 (12.0)	55 (13.8)	0.595
No	62 (15.5)	91 (22.8)	102 (25.5)
Busy work schedule
Yes	34 (8.5)	51 (12.8)	56 (14.0)	0.803
No	70 (17.5)	88 (22.0)	101 (25.3)
Required assistance to take medication
Yes	4 (1.0)	6 (1.5)	4 (1.0)	0.685
No	100 (25.0)	133 (33.3)	153 (38.3)
Family history of thyroid disease
Yes	56 (14.0)	64 (16.0)	73 (18.3)	0.413
No	48 (12.0)	75 (18.8)	84 (21.0)

Abbreviations. DA, drug adherence.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.