Open AccessAdherence and medication utilisation patterns of fixed‐dose and free combination of angiotensin receptor blocker/thiazide diuretics among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients: a population‐based cohort study
Author(s) -
Hsu C.I.,
Hsiao F.Y.,
Wu F.L. L.,
Shen L.J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/ijcp.12591
Subject(s) - medicine , thiazide , discontinuation , diuretic , hazard ratio , angiotensin receptor , population , retrospective cohort study , cohort study , urology , angiotensin ii , confidence interval , receptor , environmental health
Summary Objective The study aimed to compare the adherence and persistence among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients using fixed‐dose ( FDC ) and free combinations ( FC ) of angiotensin receptor blocker ( ARB )/thiazide diuretic using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Methods General linear regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to estimate the impact of FDC on adherence [measured by medication possession ratio ( MPR )] and persistence (time from day of initiation to treatment discontinuation) of ARB /thiazide diuretic. Results The adjusted MPR s were all significantly higher among FDC group compared with FC group (6 months: 66.55% vs. 63.86%; 1 year: 52.58% vs. 46.73%, 1.5 year: 46.30% vs. 38.07%; 2 year: 42.06% vs. 32.45%, all p < 0.001). Patients received FDC therapy were less likely to discontinue their therapy [adjusted hazard ratio ( HR ) 0.79, 95% CI = 0.74–0.85]. Conclusions Our findings suggest that use of FDC is associated with higher adherence and persistence rates than use of FC in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.