Medication Non-adherence is Associated with Increased Medical Health Care Costs

• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-007-9968-0
• Publication Date: 2007-10-12T20:15:55Z
• Authors: Sunanda Kane; Fadia Shaya
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Maryland; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Health Care Costs; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Cohort Studies; Treatment Refusal; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Gastrointestinal Agents; Humans; Patient Compliance; Colitis, Ulcerative; Female; Aged; Retrospective Studies

Non-adherence to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is associated with adverse outcomes; however, no data exist regarding cost and non-adherence. Our aim was to determine the association between adherence to maintenance therapy and healthcare costs.Patients in the Maryland CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield program with a follow-up of more than 1 month who had been prescribed at least one 5-ASA preparation during the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 were included. Non-adherence was defined as failure to refill a prescription claim, and a medication possession ratio was calculated. Generalized linear models were built to determine the association between annual average cost per patient.A total of 4313 patients were included, although only 57% were adherent with their index medication. The mean medication possession ratio ranged from 72% for Azulfidine to 82% for generic sulfasalazine. A twofold difference in gastroenterology-related inpatient cost in non-adherent versus adherent patients (22.8% vs 11.7%, P < 0.01) was observed. Non-adherence also incurred more costs for outpatient services and office visits. In multivariate analysis, patients who were persistent with their medications incurred 12.5% lower medical costs (P = 0.03).Adherence remains low over time. Non-adherence was associated with higher health care costs for both in- and outpatient settings. Patients need educated regarding non-adherence and increased costs.