This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objective: To assess the effect of patient and drug characteristics on medication adherence in people with epilepsy (PWE) in a large cohort representative of the German population.
Methods: Information was obtained from the Disease Analyzer database that collects anonymous demographic and medical data from practice computer systems throughout Germany. From 2010 to 2013, adult PWE were retrospectively analyzed regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AED). Adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR). Individuals with an MPR <80% were classified as nonadherent. Multivariate regression models were applied to assess the association of different factors with adherence by calculating adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: A total of 31,317 PWE were included. The mean MPR was 81.1% (SD 25.7%) with 64.7% of patients showing good adherence (MPR >80%). Patient-related factors associated with good adherence to AED treatment were West German residence (OR 1.23, p < 0.0001) and learning disability (OR 1.80, p < 0.0001). Adherence was higher in patients treated with new than old (OR 1.52, p < 0.0001) and branded than generic AED (OR 1.44, p < 0.0001). Among the most common AED, levetiracetam achieved best adherence (OR 2.85, p < 0.0001), valproate lowest. Two or more daily dosages reduced adherence (TID vs QD: OR 0.84, p = 0.005; BID vs QD: OR 0.86, p = 0.011).
Conclusions: One third of PWE treated with AED in Germany showed poor adherence, which was related to demographic characteristics and drug properties. Administration of new, well-tolerated drugs in simple dosage regimens improved AED compliance.
GLOSSARY
- AED=
- antiepileptic drugs;
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- ICD-10=
- International Classification of Diseases–10;
- MPR=
- medication possession ratio;
- OR=
- odds ratio;
- PHI=
- private health insurance;
- PWE=
- people with epilepsy;
- SHI=
- statutory health insurance
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Editorial, page 452
- Received October 20, 2015.
- Accepted in final form March 16, 2016.
- © 2016 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.