Comparing adherence to and persistence with antipsychotic therapy among patients with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Medication nonadherence is a significant problem among patients with bipolar disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To compare adherence and persistence among patients with bipolar disorder initiated on antipsychotics in a state Medicaid system over a 12 month follow-up period.


METHODS
Claims data for patients with bipolar disorder from a de-identified Medicaid database were examined. Patients were classified into 4 monotherapy treatment groups (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, or typical antipsychotic) based on the first prescription filled between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001. Adherence and persistence were analyzed over a 12 month follow-up period. Adherence was measured using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Persistence was defined as the total number of days from the initiation of treatment to therapy modification (ie, discontinuation, switching, or combination with another antipsychotic). Adjustment for confounding variables was undertaken using ordinary least-squares and Cox proportional hazard regression modeling.


RESULTS
The mean MPRs were 0.68 for risperidone (n = 231), 0.68 for olanzapine (n = 283), 0.71 for quetiapine (n = 106), and 0.46 for typical antipsychotics (n = 205). Patients initiated on typical antipsychotics were 23.6% less adherent than patients initiated on risperidone (p < 0.001). Mean persistence (days) was 194.8 for risperidone, 200.9 for olanzapine, 219.8 for quetiapine, and 179.2 for typical antipsychotics. Extended Cox regression modeling indicated no significant differences between antipsychotics in hazards of therapy modification within 250 days of initiation. However, patients initiated on typical antipsychotics were 5.2 times more likely to modify therapy compared with those initiated on risperidone after 250 days of antipsychotic therapy (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence and persistence were similar between atypical antipsychotic groups. The typical antipsychotic group, however, demonstrated lower adherence and a greater likelihood of patients modifying therapy compared with the risperidone cohort.
Hassan
Mariam
M
Health and Outcomes Research, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE, USA. Mariam.Hassan@astrazeneca.com
Madhavan
S Suresh
SS
Kalsekar
Iftekhar D
ID
Makela
Eugene H
EH
Rajagopalan
Kitty
K
Islam
Syed
S
Kavookjian
Jan
J
Miller
Lesley-Ann
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D010640:Phenothiazines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine