OBJECTIVE:To summarize pharmacy database studies of persistence with ocular hypotensives and review the literature of adherence with 2 additional classes of medication—antihypertensives and antihyperlipidemics— comparing methods used to analyze adherence in the 3 treatment areas.

DATA SOURCES: A search of MEDLINE (1990–2004) was conducted, using search terms designed to identify English-language articles describing adherence or persistence with any of the 3 drug classes of interest.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All articles identified through MEDLINE were reviewed and screened for use of an automated pharmacy database as an information source, quantitative results provided, and follow-up duration of at least 90 days. Details of methods used to estimate adherence or persistence and estimates of persistence with ocular hypotensive therapy, antihypertensives, and lipid-lowering agents were extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS: All studies describing the use of ocular hypotensives, and the majority of studies in the other treatment areas, identified inception cohorts of drug initiators. Use of survival analysis techniques to analyze adherence to medication therapy was less common in the hypertension and hyperlipidemia treatment adherence literature than in literature about glaucoma. In the treatment of hypertension, use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with higher levels of adherence. Statins in treatment of hyperlipidemia and topical prostaglandins as ocular hypotensive medications were also associated with higher levels of adherence.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings regarding the relative superiority of specific drug classes were consistent within each therapeutic area, with less consistency in identifying other predictors of adherence. Increased use of survival analysis in future studies of persistence might improve comparability of results across studies.

J Pharm Technol 2007;23:221-31

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ACPE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM NUMBER: 407-000-07-054-H01