Effect on the adherence to concomitant medications after initiation of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents against hepatitis C virus

IntroductionMany patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have associated comorbidities that require complex treatments. We sought to determine the impact of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for HCV on adherence to prescribed concomitant medications for associated comorbidities and to identify predictors of non-adherence to comedications.Patients and methodsHCV-infected patients treated with DAAs in a Spanish hospital between January 2015 and December 2016 and followed-up by the pharmacy unit were included in the study. Adherence to concomitant comedication prescribed before and during HCV therapy with DAAs was compared to adherence during the same number of weeks before DAA initiation. Demographic, clinical and pharmacotherapy variables were analyzed to determine factors associated with non-adherence. A multivariate regression model was created for prediction of non-adherence to concomitant medication.ResultsData from 214 patients using prescribed concomitant therapies were analyzed. Significant reduction on adherence to comedications was observed after initiation of DAA treatment compared with a similar period before therapy initiation (29.9% vs. 36.9%, p = 0.032). The univariate analysis showed that polypharmacy and presence of vascular disease were associated negatively with adherence to concomitant medications (87.8%, p = 0.006 and 84.7%, p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis indicated that HIV/HBV coinfection was associated with adherence (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.09–0.39), while polypharmacy was a predictor for non-adherence (OR 4.54; 95% CI 1.48–13.92).DiscussionAdherence to concomitant medications decreases in HCV-infected patients when DAA therapy is initiated. Polypharmacy is a predictor for non-adherence, while HIV/HBV coinfection reduce non-adherence rates. Polymedicated patients on DAAs might benefit from close follow-up and educational programmes to improve their adherence.     

Medication information seeking behavior of patients who use multiple medicines: How does it affect adherence?

Objective

This article explores medication information seeking behavior (MISB). We aimed to develop a scale for measuring MISB and use it to explore the relationships between MISB, adherence and factors, which drive information seeking.

Methods

Patients (N = 910) using multiple medicines completed questionnaires. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. Correlations and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the relationships between variables.

Results

Respondents sought medication information mainly from health professionals and written medicines information. The medication information seeking behavior scale (MISB) had acceptable reliability and validity. Information seeking was most intense among respondents who had recent changes in their medicine regimen and worries about their medicines. Those who sought medication information from autonomous sources were more likely to be non-adherent than those who never did (OR = 2.00 [1.48, 2.70]). Seeking information from health professionals had no influence on adherence.

Conclusion

Health practitioners should carefully attend to patients’ questions about medicines information. When patients mention that they are worried about their medicines and have sought medication information from television, magazines, brochures or family and friends, this could be a sign that they tend towards non-adherent behavior.

Practice implications

The MISB scale could be used to learn more about patients’ use of medication information.     

Complex and Potentially Harmful Medication Patterns in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

BackgroundComplex medication regimens, often present in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, may increase the risk of adverse drug effects and harm. We sought to characterize this complexity by determining the prevalence of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and therapeutic competition (where a medication for 1 condition may worsen another condition) in 1 of the few dedicated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction programs in the United States.MethodsWe conducted chart review on 231 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction seen in the University of Michigan's Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Clinic between July 2016 and September 2019. We recorded: 1) standing medications to determine the presence of polypharmacy, defined as ≥10 medications; 2) potentially inappropriate medications based on the 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on drugs that pose a major risk of causing or exacerbating heart failure, the 2019 Beers Criteria update, or a previously described list of medications associated with geriatric syndromes; and 3) competing conditions and subsequent medications that could create therapeutic competition.ResultsThe prevalence of polypharmacy was 74%, and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications was 100%. Competing conditions were present in 81% of patients, of whom 49% took a medication that created therapeutic competition.ConclusionIn addition to confirming that polypharmacy was highly prevalent, we found that potentially inappropriate medications and therapeutic competition were also frequently present. This supports the urgent need to develop patient-centered approaches to mitigate the negative effects of complex medication regimens endemic to adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.     

欧洲医药保健网分类系统在呼吸科老年人多重用药中的应用研究

目的采用欧洲医药保键网(Pharmaceutical care network Europe,PCNE)分类系统对老年多重用药患者的药物相关问题(Drug related problems,DRPs)进行分析和评估,从而为药师对老年患者的药学监护模式提供参考。方法回顾性收集2018-2019年在呼吸科住院且年龄≥65岁,服用5种药物以上的老年患者,对发生的药物相关问题的类型、原因、干预、干预接受程度及DRPs解决状态等方面进行分析。结果共纳入152例患者,发现DRPs共300个。平均年龄77.3岁,每人合并疾病的平均种类数3.4个,其中DRPs发生的次数1.97次/人。治疗安全性是主要问题,表现为药物不良事件,占54%。主要原因为药物相互作用,占39.7%。DRPs的干预类型中,针对医生方面占84%。DRPs问题最终解决65%。结论通过PCNE分类能及时发现和解决DRPs,同时有助于对老年多重用药患者的药学监护记录的标准化和规范化,为患者安全、有效、合理使用药物提供依据。     

Avoidance of polypharmacy and excessive blood pressure control is associated with improved renal function in older patients

Abstract

Background: Elderly patients are particularly susceptible to polypharmacy. The present study evaluated the renal effects of optimizing potentially nephrotoxic medications in an older population. Methods: Retrospective study of patients’ ≥60 years treated between January of 2013 and February of 2015 in a Nephrology Clinic. The renal effect of avoiding polypharmacy was studied. Results: Sixty-one patients were studied. Median age was 81 years (range 60–94). Twenty-five patients (41%) were male. NSAIDs alone were stopped in seven patients (11.4%), a dose reduction in antihypertensives was done in 11 patients (18%), one or more antihypertensives were discontinued in 20 patients (32.7%) and discontinuation and dose reduction of multiple medications was carried out in 23 patients (37.7%). The number of antihypertensives was reduced from a median of 3 (range of 0–8) at baseline to a median of 2 (range 0–7), p?<?0.001 after intervention. After intervention, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) improved significantly, from a baseline of 32?±?15.5?cc/min/1.73m² to 39.5?±?17?cc/min/1.73m² at t1 (p?<?0.001) and 44.5?±?18.7?cc/min/1.73m² at t2 (p?<?0.001 vs. baseline). In a multivariate model, after adjusting for ACEIs/ARBs discontinuation/dose reduction, NSAIDs use and change in DBP, an increase in SBP at time 1 remained significantly associated with increments in GFR on follow-up (estimate?=?0.20, p?=?0.01). Conclusions: Avoidance of polypharmacy was associated with an improvement in renal function.