Study Type – Symptom prevalence (prospective cohort) Level of Evidence 1b OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient‐reported reasons for discontinuing antimuscarinic prescription medications for overactive bladder (OAB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A phase 1 screening survey was sent to a representative sample of 260 000 households in the USA to identify patients using antimuscarinic agents for OAB. A detailed phase‐2 follow‐up survey was sent to 6577 respondents with one or more antimuscarinic prescriptions for OAB in the 12 months before the phase 1 survey. The follow‐up survey included questions about demographics, clinical characteristics, antimuscarinic use, beliefs about OAB, treatment expectations, OAB symptom bother, and pre‐coded reasons for discontinuation. Patients who reported discontinuing one or more OAB medication during the 12 months before phase 2 were grouped by reason, using latent class analysis (LCA); the Lo‐Mendell‐Rubin likelihood statistical test was used to determine the number of classes. Conditional probabilities of reasons for discontinuation were calculated for each class. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the influence of demographic and clinical characteristics on class assignment. RESULTS: In all, 162 906 (63%) and 5392 (82%) useable responses were returned in phases 1 and 2, respectively; the demographics were similar in respondents and nonrespondents in both phases. In all, 1322 phase 2 respondents (24.5%) reported discontinuing one or more antimuscarinic drugs during the 12 months before phase 2. LCA identified two classes (Lo‐Mendell‐Rubin statistic, P = 0.01) based on reasons for discontinuation. Most respondents (89%) reported discontinuing OAB medication primarily due to unmet treatment expectations and/or tolerability; many respondents in this class switched to a new antimuscarinic agent. A smaller group (11%) indicated a general aversion to taking medication. Age, sex, race, income, and history of incontinence were not predictive of class assignment. CONCLUSIONS: Expectations about treatment efficacy and side‐effects are the most important considerations in discontinuing OAB medications for most patients. Interventions to promote realistic expectations about treatment efficacy and side‐effects might enhance adherence.

BACKGROUND: Tight blood glucose control has been correlated with a reduction in diabetes complications. Adherence to antidiabetic medications is crucial to achieving blood glucose control. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between good glucose control [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA _1c ) levels] and adherence to prescribed treatment in patients on a stable medication regimen for type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The Morisky survey, a 4–item questionnaire that predicts patient medication-taking behavior, was used to assess adherence in 301 patients. The relationship of HbA _1c to Morisky score was evaluated, controlling for other variables related to patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Data were analyzed using a general linear model on log (HbA _1c ). RESULTS: Unadjusted mean HbA _1c values (capped at 14.0%) for patients with Morisky scores of 0 or 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 8.92%, 8.67%, 7.74%, and 7.60%, respectively. Of all patients, 13.0%, 14.0%, 24.3%, and 48.8% had scores of 0 or 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Good adherence (Morisky score ≥3) was associated with a 10% lower total HbA _1c (p = 0.0003) adjusted for all other factors in the model. Duration of diabetes (5–10 y) and presence of diabetes complications were also significantly associated with HbA _1c (p = 0.026 and 0.002, respectively). Adherence was poor in 27% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients with a higher score on the Morisky scale had a lower associated HbA _1c measurement. The Morisky score may be an efficient tool for identifying patients with poor medication-taking behavior who can then be targeted for directed adherence counseling services.

This research explores the association between the interruption or termination of antihypertensive drug therapy and total health care costs among non-institutionalized Medicaid patients older than age 40 who survive the first year after treatment. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the statistical relationship between post-treatment costs and patient demographic characteristics, prior use of services, the type of medication used as initial therapy and whether the patient maintained continuous therapy. Paid claims data from the California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program were used in the analysis. Total cost of health care in the first year after the initiation of drug therapy was the primary outcome variable. Components of total costs (e.g., hospital, outpatient and physician services, prescription drugs) were also investigated. Nearly 86% of new antihypertensive drug therapy patients interrupted or discontinued purchasing any form of antihypertensive medication during the first year. Patients with interrupted antihypertensive drug therapy consumed an additional $873 per patient (P < .0001) in health care during the first year, not counting a reduction in prescription drug cost of $281 (P < .0001). Increased costs were primarily due to increased hospital expenditures of $637 (P < .0002).