A comparison of medication adherence indices to assess long-term inhaled corticosteroid medication use

J Asthma. 2001 Feb;38(1):91-8. doi: 10.1081/jas-100000026.

Abstract

This study examined associations between select hypothesized adherence predictors in claims databases and long-term inhaled corticosteroid adherence. Medication adherence was measured by using medication possession indexes and a refill regularity measure in 1595 older adults using inhaled corticosteroids for 2 years. Medication possession indices were highly correlated with each other but not with the refill regularity measure. Additionally, the hypothesized predictors explained a larger percentage of the variance in the medication possession indices compared to the refill regularity measure. Although long-term retrospective medication utilization poses many measurability issues, the use of multiple indices gives a more complete picture of usage behavior.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Aged
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Glucocorticoids