Ethnic groups at the highest risk of diabetes and dyslipidaemia are among those most likely to have low adherence to their treatment, a new study has suggested.

Results of the Aston Medication Adherence Study found that medicines adherence in diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypothyroidism treatment was lowest in those of ‘other black' or ‘African' ethnicity, followed by Asian and Carribean groups.

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	People of African and Asian ethnicity are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while people of Asian ethnicity are at increased risk of hyperlipidaemia. The study, which looked at data from 76 GP practices in Heart of Birmingham PCT between 2000 and 2010, also found that age, religion, language and affluence had a "significant" impact on adherence.

Muslim patients were found to have "noticeably lower" adherence levels than those who described themselves as Hindu, Protestant or Roman Catholic, possibly because of restrictions during Ramadan. Patients aged under 60, who lived in areas of greatest social deprevation and whose primary language was Urdu or Bengali, were also less likely to adhere to treatment.

The authors concluded that pharmacists' roles in managing long-term conditions should be enhanced to help manage conditions, with increased use of initiatives such as the new medicine service.

Chris Langley, a principle investigator on the study, suggested that pharmacists could help these groups with medicines advice after patients expressed "much frustration" over accessing a GP. "I think a lot of them would like [support] from their GPs, but they're not getting it and they understand they're not going to get it with current pressures," he told C+D. "So they were very complimentary about pharmacists [and] the services they can provide."