Patients new to chronic disease medication are at an increased of facing the greatest risk of medication discontinuation during the first 30 days of treatment - with discontinuation rates ranging from 29.6 to 78.1 percent, as per researchers from Adheris, Inc., an inVentiv Health.
This finding was disclosed by a new study that was published online by Clinical Therapeutics.
From News-Medical.Net:
Medication inexperience and patient age were strongly and more consistently associated with the risk of discontinuation than co-payment, income and sex in all the medication classes investigated. Overall rates of discontinuation for naïve patients were 12 times greater in the first month of treatment than during any subsequent month. Discontinuation was most rapid among naïve patients prescribed asthma inhalers, asthma pills, and glaucoma drops; intermediate for patients prescribed medications for breast cancer, diabetes (insulin), and osteoporosis; and least rapid for patients prescribed medications for cardiovascular illness, high cholesterol, and oral medications for diabetes. Three of the four medication classes most likely to be discontinued were all non-oral medications (inhaled steroids, glaucoma drops, and insulin injections).
Lead author Mark Vanelli, MD, MHS, Chief Medical Officer at Adheris and Harvard Medical School faculty member, said that this study provides clear and practical implications for improving routine clinical care and minimizing healthcare costs.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
