title: Prevalence and economic consequences of medication adherence in diabetes: a systematic literature review.
abstract: A systematic literature review was conducted using a comprehensive list of relevant search terms (1990-2005) to identify studies on adherence among patients with diabetes, and its economic effect. A lack of adequate treatment adherence (36%-87%) among patients with diabetes was confirmed, primarily measured by medication possession ratio (MPR). Adherence varied among oral agent-only (36%-87%) versus concomitant or insulin-only (54%-81%) regimens. Economic consequences of adherence were a decrease in health care costs, ranging from 8.6% to 28.9%, with an approximate 10% increase in MPR, mostly in the form of a 4.1% to 31.0% decrease in hospitalization. Increased cost sharing was associated with a 9% to 23% decline in medication use.
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20814-5341, USA.
authors.forename: Won Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cobden
authors.forename: Ashish V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Chris L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pashos
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance