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. 2018 Jan-Mar;8(1):2045893217743616.
doi: 10.1177/2045893217743616. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

Medication and patient factors associated with adherence to pulmonary hypertension targeted therapies

Duncan Grady  1 , Marjorie Weiss  2 , Jules Hernandez-Sanchez  3 , Joanna Pepke-Zaba  4
Affiliations

Medication and patient factors associated with adherence to pulmonary hypertension targeted therapies

Duncan Grady et al. Pulm Circ. 2018 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the medication adherence of patients on pulmonary hypertension (PH)-targeted therapies and uncover factors that might influence adherence values. Patients taking at least one specialist medicine (sildenafil, tadalafil, bosentan, ambrisentan, iloprost, epoprostenol, treprostinil) completed a Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) questionnaire. Participants' MMAS-8 scores were used to estimate overall medicine adherence. Potential adherence co-factor data were collected from patient databases and hospital discharge summaries. The MMAS-8 questionnaire was completed by 263 patients (mean age = 61.6 ± 14.8 years, 70.6% women). Data from MMAS-8 showed that 47.9% reported high adherence, 40.3% moderate adherence, and 11.8% low adherence. Factors associated with adherence as measured by the MMAS-8 included: older age; taking monotherapy; and having a higher number of co-morbidities or concurrent medicines. Higher administration frequency, greater length of time on targeted therapy, and use of a compliance aid had a negative association with adherence. Overall adherence to PH specialist medicines is relatively high but a proportion of patients report sub-optimal adherence behavior. A number of factors may help to recognize susceptible patients.

Keywords: MMAS-8; Morisky; compliance; concordance; medicines.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Sample selection.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Morisky adherence values (percentage).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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