Predictors of first-fill adherence for patients with hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Between the promise of evidence-based medicine and the reality of inadequate patient outcomes lies patient adherence. Studies of prescription adherence have been hampered by methodologic problems. Most rely on patient self-report of adherence or cross-sectional data of plan-wide prescription fills to estimate patient-level adherence.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study and linked individual patient data for incident prescriptions for antihypertensive medications from electronic health records (EHRs) to claims data obtained from the patient's insurance plan. Clinical data were obtained from the Geisinger Clinic, a 41 site group practice serving central and northeastern Pennsylvania with an EHR in use since 2001. Adherence was defined as a prescription claim generated for the first-fill prescription within 30 days of the prescribing date.


RESULTS
Of the 3,240 patients written a new, first-time prescription for an antihypertensive medication, 2,685 (83%) generated a corresponding claim within 30 days. Sex, age, therapeutic class, number of other medications prescribed within 10 days of the antihypertensive prescription, number of refills, co-pay, comorbidity score, baseline blood pressure (BP), and change in BP were significantly associated with first-fill rates (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who are older, female, have multiple comorbidities, and/or have relatively lower BPs may be less likely to fill a first prescription for antihypertensive medications and may be potential candidates for interventions to improve adherence to first-fill prescriptions.
Shah
Nirav R
NR
Center for Health Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA. niravrshah@gmail.com
Hirsch
Annemarie G
AG
Zacker
Christopher
C
Wood
G Craig
GC
Schoenthaler
Antoinette
A
Ogedegbe
Gbenga
G
Stewart
Walter F
WF
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents