Let’s look at Medication Adherence. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that global medication adherence among patients with chronic diseases averages 50 percent, and that adherence rates decrease as the number of co-morbid diseases increase.  Medication adherence is an important contributor to effective chronic condition management.  Medications are often the primary factor preventing older adults from developing serious complications from chronic illness.   Conversely, poor medication adherence is the leading cause of increased health care costs, morbidity, and early death.