Effects of medication adherence on healthcare services use among asthma patients

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2019

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Medication adherence is an important indicator of quality in healthcare, and non-adherence is associated with increased healthcare costs, hospital admissions, re-admissions, and decline in health outcomes. Despite the availability of medication to control and avoid adverse health outcomes, adherence to medications among asthma patients varies between 40% and 60%. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of asthma medication adherence on healthcare services. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study is based on insurance claims data for Medicaid patients primarily diagnosed with asthma during 2015–2016. A regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between control and rescue medication adherence with healthcare use (hospital admissions and re-admissions, clinic visits, and emergency department visits), as well as patient demographics (age, gender, and estimated income). Results: This study found a control medication adherence of 82%. Patients with high rescue medication adherence had fewer emergency department visits (p =.0004) and inpatient admissions (p =.0303). Patients with more than 4 clinic visits had higher rescue medication adherence. Older and low-income patients had higher 30-day re-admissions. Males and low-income patients had more emergency visits. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that certain populations (older, low-income, and male) may benefit from additional education on monitoring and controlling asthma. This may reduce costlier healthcare services use in favor of less expensive physician visits and education programs.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Healthcare Quality Research

First Page

301

Last Page

307

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