Nonadherence as a predictor of antidiabetic drug therapy intensification (augmentation).
OBJECTIVE
To determine if nonadherence with antidiabetic drug therapy is predictive of subsequent antidiabetic drug therapy intensification.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining retail pharmacy dispensings of sulfonylureas or metformin to 1067 patients having diabetes. Patients that did not receive a sufficient quantity of medication to cover at least 80% of days during the evaluation period were classified as nonadherent. Outcomes identified were increase in the dose of antidiabetic medication utilized, the addition of a second antidiabetic agent to the regimen or either.


RESULTS
Among users of sulfonylurea monotherapy, those classified as nonadherent were 45% more likely to intensify therapy in subsequent months as compared with those classified as adherent (age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.00). This finding was largely driven by observed increases in dosage, which were more likely among patients classified as nonadherent (age-adjusted OR 1.48, 95%CI 1.07-2.05). Nonadherence was not found to be predictive of the subsequent addition of a second antidiabetic agent (OR 1.02; 95%CI 0.64-1.63). Overall findings were similar for the smaller sample of patients receiving metformin monotherapy, though observed differences did not achieve statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who were poorly adherent to oral antidiabetic drug therapy more frequently experienced an increase in the dose of medication prescribed, as compared to patients that were classified as adherent. This finding underscores the need for prescribers to consider nonadherence as a root cause when patients fail to achieve therapeutic goals.
Kogut
Stephen J
SJ
Program in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA. Kogut@URI.edu
Andrade
Susan E
SE
Willey
Cynthia
C
Larrat
E Paul
EP
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010594:Pharmacies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D008687:Metformin