Article
Investigation of treatment persistence and patient compliance in the area of chronic diseases
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Authors
Published: | September 30, 2004 |
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Outline
Text
Aim of the Study
How long stay patients on defined therapies [Ref. 1] and how do patients adhere with prescribed therapies [Ref. 2]? In this study we analysed the persistence of therapies and the compliance of patients in the area of the selected chronic disease hypertension.
Method
The analyses were carried out with the patient databases Disease Analyzer - mediplus Germany [Ref. 3] and UK. These databases provide anonymous access to a representative panel of physicians and patients. For Germany currently more than 1,200 medical practices spread over 11 different specialities including nearly 4 million patients and over 60 million prescriptions for the last year can be analysed in a cross and/or longitudinal section. In comparison to other patient databases the database is unique in the sense that it is the only available database with direct linking of individual diagnosis and corresponding therapy.
Results
Analyses were carried out on the levels of ATC (diuretics, beta-blocker, Ca-antagonists, ACE and AII inhibitors), molecules (Amlodipin, Sartan and HCT) and preparations. The results of persistance for chronic diseases such as hypertension point up that already one year after the alignment or conversion of therapy as a rule more than 50% of patients are lost. Moreover the rate of persistance is very different as well between as also within the different levels of investigation. Regarding hypertension in general after three years 80% to 90% of patients are no longer on their initial therapy.
Based on package size and recommended dose by physicians (prescribed daily dosage) the rate of compliance is analysed. Only few patients are compliant up to 100%, For hypertension the rate is different in dependence from the principle of chosen therapy.
Conclusion
The results received show conspicuous differences in duration of persistence between defined indications and low rates of patients compliance hypertension. Based on the used database Disease Analyzer - mediplus behaviour patterns of prescribers and patients such as persistence or compliance can be investigated very precisely and trends are pointed out very early.
Conflict of interest: none
References
- 1.
- Benner JS et al, Long-term persistence in use of statin therapy in elderly patients, JAMA 288:455-61, 2002
- 2.
- Donnan PT et al, Adherence to prescribed oral hypoglycaemic medication in a population of patients with type 2 diabetes, Diabet Med 19(4):263-4, 2002
- 3.
- Dietlein G, Schröder-Bernhardi D, Use of the mediplus patient database in healthcare research, Int J Clin Pharmacol Therap 40(3):130-133, 2002