title: Characterization of Glaucoma Medication Adherence in Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe adherence to glaucoma medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medication adherence was investigated using the computerized records of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, a group model health maintenance organization that provides care to 3.4 million residents of Southern California. Eligible glaucoma patients were diagnosed between 2005 and 2009 and had medical and prescription drug coverage between 2005 and 2009. Utilization and adherence parameters were calculated for each of the 5 years from the incident date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17,943 newly diagnosed glaucoma patients were identified between the years 2005 and 2009. Of patients diagnosed with glaucoma in 2005, 71% were continuously eligible for 5 years. Medication adherence was calculated using a medication possession ratio. Adherence was bimodal and not normal in distribution. Overall, the mean age of the entire group was 66 years, with 56% being 65 years of age or older. The high adherence group tended to be older, more likely to be female, and more likely to be white. The low adherent group (younger) tended to have more and worse diabetes, renal disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The shape of the adherence distribution appears bimodal, so analysis based on parametric measures may not be appropriate. Investigations of adherence should probably be performed separately for the low, mid, and high groups.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Research and Evaluation, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Pasadena †Department of Ophthalmology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Baldwin Park ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles §Global Health Outcomes Strategy and Research, Allergan, Irvine, CA.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Donald S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Ervin N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mesirov
authors.forename: Vaishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents