Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, a total of 103 patients (22 males, 81 females; mean age 58.6±9.5 years; range, 35 to 76 years) with tightly controlled RA between November 2016 and May 2017 were included. The patients were evaluated in terms of sociodemographic features, smoking and alcohol drinking status, body mass index (BMI), Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), and clinical and medication data. They filled out a series of standardized questionnaires including the Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Multiple multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify variables which were possibly associated with the MMAS-8.

Results: Of the patients, 53 (51.5%) were non-adherent and 50 (48.5%) were adherent to medication. The DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean DAS28, HAQ, BDI scores, and the number of visits were higher and the MMSE scores were lower in non-adherent patients than adherent patients. In the linear multivariate analysis, significant associations were found between the MMAS-8 and MMSE, BDI, DAS28, and mean DAS28 scores.

Conclusion: Our study results show that the medication adherence rate is significantly higher compared to previous studies and high disease activity, depression, and cognitive dysfunction significantly affect medication adherence in this patient population. Keywords : Cognitive dysfunction; depression; medication adherence; rheumatoid arthritis