Monitoring adherence rates in glaucoma patients using the Travatan Dosing Aid. A 6-month study comparing patients on travoprost 0.004% and patients on travoprost 0.004%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess adherence in glaucoma patients using the Travatan Dosing Aid (TDA); to record differences in adherence by age, sex, therapy, systemic therapies, years from diagnosis, type of therapy and intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
Sixth-month cohort study; fifty-six Caucasian, primary open-angle glaucoma patients on travoprost (T) or travoprost/timolol fixed combination (TTFC) monotherapy were submitted to four visits: at baseline and months 1, 3 and 6 (M1, M3, M6). Adherence was recorded with TDA and classified as 'high' if greater than 90%. Self-reported and physician-presumed adherence data were collected. Kruskall-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were applied.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients (54.2%) were treated with T. Age, sex, level of schooling, presence of systemic comorbidities, duration of current therapy and IOP were similar between T and TTFC. Seventeen subjects (30.3%) recorded high adherence at every visit, 13 (23.2%) at two visits, 26 (46.4%) otherwise. Adherence was maintained over time with a slight decrease from month 1 to month 6 without statistical differences within and between groups. Adherence was statistically influenced by age (p = 0.007) and duration of therapy (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
The typical nonadherent patient is elderly. TDA records indicate that only a minority of patients are really adherent: predictive models to screen for poor adherence are needed.
Rossi
Gemma Caterina Maria
GC
University Eye Clinic, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, 27100, Italy. gemma.rossi.md@gmail.com
Pasinetti
Gian Maria
GM
Scudeller
Luigia
L
Tinelli
Carmine
C
Milano
Giovanni
G
Bianchi
Paolo Emilio
PE
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069557:Travoprost; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D003008:Cloprostenol; D013999:Timolol; D000069557:Travoprost