According to a recent study, 44% of people with chronic conditions who responded to a population-based survey experienced medication-related burden (MRB). The burden was most common among people with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatic disease or some other musculoskeletal disorder. The greatest burden was caused by factors associated with health care, such as fragmented care and the cost of medicines, as well as adverse drug reactions or concerns about them.

“Other factors linked with MRB were poor health status, limits on functional capacity and low income,” says Pharmacist and Doctoral Researcher Heidi Mikkola from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland. Mikkola also works as a researcher at the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea.

Medication therapy plays an important role in treating many chronic conditions, but it can also cause significant burden in a patient’s daily life. MRB refers to the psychological, social and practical burden experienced by the patient in connection with using medicines. MRB can reduce adherence to treatment, lower patients’ quality of life and lead to increased healthcare costs.

“Identifying the illnesses and patient groups that involve the greatest risk of MRB will allow healthcare to allocate support and resources more efficiently,” says Mikkola.

The study shows that experiencing MRB is a common phenomenon at the population level and its prevalence varies across different chronic conditions. Healthcare professionals should take patient perspectives and the different dimensions of MRB into account so that treatment can be planned in an individual and patient-oriented manner.

The study performed by the University of Eastern Finland and Fimea utilised data from the 2021 Medicines Barometer population survey. The Medicines Barometer is a survey aimed at the population to investigate Finns' views and experiences regarding medicines. The population survey is conducted by Fimea every two years. The study utilised the survey responses of 1,323 Finns who had at least one diagnosed chronic condition and used prescription medications. The peer-reviewed research results were published in BMC Health Services Research. The study is part of Mikkola’s doctoral dissertation.

Research article:

Mikkola H, Hämeen-Anttila K, Airaksinen M, Dimitrow M, Saastamoinen L: Medication-related burden variation across chronic conditions: a population-based cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Services Research 2025;25:1283