title: Glaucoma medication adherence in veterans and influence of coexisting chronic disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to characterize veterans' adherence to glaucoma medications and follow-up eye care, and to examine the influence of coexisting chronic conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of computerized medical records was performed for 161 veterans taking topical glaucoma medications. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was calculated using pharmacy data. Mean follow-up ratio (FUR) was calculated using the number of days between visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the health conditions examined, the most prevalent was hearing loss (0.34), followed by arthritis (0.29), PTSD, or other anxiety disorder (0.27), and dementia or other memory disorder (0.09). The average rates of MPR and FUR were 0.69±0.20 and 0.84±0.19, respectively.Group comparisons found that patients with hearing loss had higher MPR compared with patients without hearing loss, and patients who were white had higher FUR than African American patients. When demographic and health characteristics were examined simultaneously in multiple linear regressions, hearing loss emerged as a significant predictor of MPR, and being older was significantly related to FUR. Younger age was also associated with MPR and being white (vs. African American) or having a PTSD/other anxiety disorder was related to FUR, although these findings did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FUR was better than MPR in a veteran population being treated for glaucoma.Hearing loss was significantly related to higher MPR, whereas being older was significantly associated with higher FUR. These characteristics should be taken into consideration in future programs to improve adherence to glaucoma care.
authors: VA Boston Health Care System, Eye Clinic, Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA.
authors: Baharak
authors: B
authors: Asefzadeh
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Rett
authors: Terri K
authors: TK
authors: Pogoda
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Selvin
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Cavallerano
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D058014:Veterans Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions