Open AccessPrimary non‐adherence to inhaled medications measured with e‐prescription data from Poland
Author(s) -
Kardas Grzegorz,
Panek Michał,
Kuna Piotr,
Kardas Przemysław
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and translational allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.979
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2045-7022
DOI - 10.1186/s13601-020-00346-7
Subject(s) - medicine , medical prescription , asthma , copd , demographics , primary care , inhaled corticosteroids , asthma medication , pediatrics , family medicine , pharmacology , demography , sociology
Background Treatment adherence greatly influences the clinical outcomes in various fields of medicine, including management of asthma and COPD. With the recent implementation of a nationwide e‐Health solutions in Poland, new and unique opportunities for studying primary non‐adherence in asthma and COPD emerged. The aim was to study primary non‐adherence to inhaled medications available in Poland indicated in asthma and/or COPD and analyse the impact of patients’ demographics and inhalers’ characteristics (dry powder inhalers (DPIs) vs metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and presence of a dosage counter) on primary non‐adherence. Methods A retrospective analysis of all e‐prescriptions issued in Poland in 2018 (n = 119,880) from the national e‐prescription pilot framework. Results Primary non‐adherence for inhalable medications reached 15.3%. It significantly differed among age groups—the lowest (10.8%) was in 75 + years‐old patients, highest (18%) in 65–74 years‐old patients. No gender differences in primary non‐adherence were found. The highest non‐adherence was observed for ICS + LABA combinations (18.86%). A significant difference was found between MDI and DPI inhalers and between inhalers with/without a dosage counter. Conclusions Out of e‐prescriptions for inhaled medications issued in 2018 in Poland, 15.3% were not redeemed. The degree of primary non‐adherence was influenced by age, but not gender. Significant differences between MDIs and DPIs and between inhalers with/without a dosage counter were observed.