Published in:
01-10-2008 | Original Article
Impact of compliance and persistence with bisphosphonate therapy on health care costs and utilization
Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 10/2008
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Summary
The impact of persistence and compliance with bisphosphonate therapy on health care costs and utilization was examined in women newly prescribed bisphosphonates. At 3 years, women who were persistent and compliant with bisphosphonate therapy had lower total costs compared with non-persistent and non-compliant women, after controlling for relevant risk factors.
Introduction
The impact of persistence and compliance with bisphosphonate therapy on health care costs and utilization was examined in bisphosphonate-naïve women.
Methods
Two claims databases were used to identify women ≥45 years of age and who filled a new bisphosphonate prescription during 2000–2002. Persistence and compliance were evaluated over 3 years. Compliance was defined as a medication possession ratio (days of bisphosphonate supply/days of follow-up) ≥0.80; persistence was defined as no refill gaps ≥30 days. Multivariate models accounted for potential confounders.
Results
This analysis included 32,944 women (mean age, 64 years) who filled a new prescription for daily or weekly alendronate (n = 26,581) or risedronate (n = 6,363). At 3 years, 37% of women were compliant and 21% of women were persistent. Unadjusted total mean health care costs were lower for the compliant vs. non-compliant and persistent vs. non-persistent cohorts. After adjusting for potential confounders, total health care costs were reduced by 8.9% for persistent patients (p < 0.001) and 3.5% for compliant patients (p = 0.014). Persistence decreased the likelihood of inpatient admission by 47%.
Conclusion
At 3 years, women who were persistent and compliant with bisphosphonate therapy had lower total costs compared with non-persistent and non-compliant women, after controlling for relevant risk factors.