Medication adherence and racial differences in A1C control

The Effect of Pharmacist-Led Telemedicine on A1c Reduction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: Diabetes remains a prevalent metabolic chronic condition. The pandemic promoted the use of telemedicine for patients with chronic conditions. Telemedicine offers innovative methods to achieve glycemic control for these patients. This study evaluates the effectiveness of telemedicine with pharmacists in reduction of glycated hemoglobin (A1C) for patients with diabetes. Methods: This study (n = 112) was a single-center, retrospective study that evaluated the effectiveness of patients enrolling in pharmacist-led diabetes management utilizing telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with an A1C >9 mg/dL were contacted for telemedicine with the pharmacy team. The three groups included: patients agreeing to the telemedicine visit (n = 28), patients that declined the telemedicine visit (n = 42), and patients that did not answer the telephone when offered the telemedicine visit (n = 28). Results: Our study revealed a significant change in the primary endpoint A1C (2.6 + 2.4, p = 0.0144) for the patients who accepted telemedicine visits when compared with the other study groups. The secondary endpoints, changes in A1C (when evaluating employment status, number of clinic visits, number of chronic conditions, gender, race) and changes in body mass index, revealed no significant changes. Conclusion: Diabetes management using telemedicine with pharmacists impacts glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study demonstrates patients who accepted pharmacist-led telemedicine had a reduction in A1C. Further research may reveal long-term benefits on clinical outcomes after utilizing this service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advancing Equity in Diabetes Prevention, Treatment, and Outcomes: Delivering on Our Values

Diabetes inequities exist from diabetes prevention to outcomes and are rooted in the social drivers (determinants) of health. Historical policies such as "redlining" have adversely affected diabetes prevalence, control, and outcomes for decades. Advancing diabetes equity requires multimodal approaches, addressing both individual-level diabetes education, self-management, and treatment along with addressing social needs, and working to improve upstream drivers of health. All individuals affected by diabetes must advocate for policies to advance diabetes equity at the organizational, local, state, and federal levels. Centering diabetes efforts and interventions on equity will improve diabetes treatment and care for all.

Ethnic disparities in medication adherence? A systematic review examining the association between ethnicity and antidiabetic medication adherence

OBJECTIVES

Adherence to prescribed medication is an essential component of diabetes management to obtain optimal outcomes. Understanding the relationship between medication adherence and ethnicity is key to optimising treatment for all people with different chronic illnesses, including those with diabetes. The aim of this review is to examine whether the adherence to antidiabetic medications differed by ethnicity among people with diabetes.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted of studies reporting adherence to antidiabetic medication amongst people from different ethnic groups. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from their inception to June 2022 for quantitative studies with a specific focus on studies assessing adherence to antidiabetic medications (PROSPERO: CRD42021278392). The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist and a second checklist designed for studies using retrospective databases were used to assess study quality. A narrative synthesis approach was used to summarize the results based on the medication adherence measures.

RESULTS

Of 17,410 citations screened, 41 studies that included observational retrospective database research and cross-sectional studies were selected, each of which involved diverse ethnic groups from different settings. This review identified a difference in the adherence to antidiabetic medications by ethnicity in 38 studies, despite adjustment for several confounding variables that may otherwise explain these differences.

CONCLUSION

This review revealed that adherence to antidiabetic medication differed by ethnicity. Further research is needed to explore the ethnicity-related factors that may provide an explanation for these disparities.

Improving diabetic patients' adherence to treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (Office Guidelines Applied to Practice-IMPACT Study)-a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness trial

BACKGROUND

Despite nationwide improvements in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity, CVD deaths in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are 2-4 times higher than among those without T2DM. A key contributor to these poor health outcomes is medication non-adherence. Twenty-one to 42% of T2DM patients do not take blood sugar, blood pressure (BP), or statin medications as prescribed. Interventions that foster and reinforce patient-centered communication show promise in improving health outcomes. However, they have not been widely implemented, in part due to a lack of compelling evidence for their effectiveness in real-life primary care settings.

METHODS

This pragmatic cluster-randomized trial randomizes 17 teams in 12 Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs) to two experimental groups: intervention (group 1): Office-Gap + Texting vs. control (group 2): Texting only. Office-GAP (Office-Guidelines Applied to Practice) is a patient activation intervention to improve communication and patient-provider partnerships through brief patient and provider training in shared decision-making (SDM) and use of a guideline-based checklist. The texting intervention (Way2Health) is a cell phone messaging service that informs and encourages patients to adhere to goals, adhere to medication use and improve communication. After recruitment, patients in groups 1 and 2 will both attend (1) one scheduled group visit, (90-120 min) conducted by trained research assistants, and (2) follow-up visits with their providers after group visit at 0-1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Data will be collected over 12-month intervention period. Our primary outcome is medication adherence measured using eCAP electronic monitoring and self-report. Secondary outcomes are (a) diabetes-specific 5-year CVD risk as measured with the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Engine score, (b) provider engagement as measured by the CollaboRATE Shared-Decision Making measure, and (c) patient activation measures (PAM).

DISCUSSION

This study will provide a rigorous pragmatic evaluation of the effectiveness of combined mHealth, and patient activation interventions compared to mHealth alone, targeting patients and healthcare providers in safety net health centers, in improving medication adherence and decreasing CVD risk. Given that 20-50% of adults with chronic illness demonstrate medication non-adherence, increasing adherence is essential to improve CVD outcomes as well as healthcare cost savings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT04874116.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare Rating, Diabetes Self-efficacy, and Diabetes Management Among Non-pregnant Women of Childbearing Age: Does Socioeconomic Status Matter?

OBJECTIVE

Patient perceptions of healthcare ratings, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes management play a role in diabetes-related outcomes, particularly among women of childbearing age. Guided by a modified Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior framework, the objective was to compare differences in perceptions of health care ratings, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes management among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White women of childbearing age.

METHODS

The sample comprised 7 years (2012-2018) of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. The sample was limited to women of childbearing age (18-45 years) who have ever been told they had diabetes (n = 691; weighted n = 932,426). Dependent variables were health care rating, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes care management. The key independent variable was race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White). We adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and perceived health status using multiple linear and multivariable logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Non-Hispanic Black women (41.6%) self-reported their health status as fair or poor (44.9%) compared to non-Hispanic White (33.3%) and Hispanic (37.6%). In adjusted models, non-Hispanic Black women had 46% lower odds (95% CI = 0.31, 0.94) of reporting high health care ratings compared to non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic Black women had 43% lower odds (95% CI = 0.35, 0.95) and Hispanic women had 47% lower odds (95% CI = 0.34, 0.80) of reporting higher levels of diabetes care management than non-Hispanic White women.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides important information regarding diabetes health care ratings, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors. Because of the increasing prevalence of diabetes among women of childbearing age, it is important to improve health care particularly for racial/ethnic minority women with diabetes.

Distance from the endocrinology clinic and diabetes control in a rural pediatric population

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the impact of geographic distance from the clinic on adherence to recommended clinic visits and diabetes control among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) seen in a pediatric endocrinology clinic serving a rural region in eastern North Carolina.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients with T1D age ≤20 years seen in our clinic during 2017. Outcomes were tracked until June 2018. Distance from the clinic was determined according to the zone improvement plan (ZIP) code of patient address. Visit adherence was defined based on the number of attended visits during the study period, aiming for 1 every 3 months. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured at the first and last visits during the review period.

RESULTS

The analysis included 368 patients, of whom 218 (59%) completed at least 1 visit every 3 months. The median HbA1c was 9.1 (interquartile range [IQR]: 8.0, 10.3) at the initial visit, and 9.3 (IQR: 8.0, 11.1) at the final visit. Median distance from the clinic was 56 km (IQR: 35, 86). On multivariable logistic regression, greater distance from the clinic was associated with lower odds of visit adherence (odds ratio per 10 km: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.87, 0.99; p=0.030). Neither distance to the clinic nor clinic visit adherence were associated with HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients living further away from the clinic were less likely to adhere to the recommended visit schedule, but distance was not correlated with HbA1c levels. Further work is needed to assist families living far from the clinic with adhering to recommended visits.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Metabolic Disease in Adolescents With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Context

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common and associated with metabolic syndrome. In the general population, metabolic disease varies by race and ethnicity.

Objective

This work aimed to examine in depth the interaction of race and ethnicity with PCOS-related metabolic disease in adolescent youth.

Methods

A secondary analysis was conducted of data from girls (age 12-21 years) with overweight or obesity (> 90 body mass index [BMI] percentile) and PCOS. Measurements included fasting hormone and metabolic measures, a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and magnetic resonance imaging for hepatic fat. Groups were categorized by race or ethnicity.

Results

Participants included 39 non-Hispanic White (NHW, age 15.7 ± 0.2 years; BMI 97.7 ± 0.2 percentile), 50 Hispanic (HW, 15.2 ± 0.3 years; 97.9 ± 0.3 percentile), and 12 non-Hispanic Black (NHB, 16.0 ± 0.6 years; 98.6 ± 0.4 percentile) adolescents. Hepatic markers of insulin resistance were worse in NHW, including lower sex hormone-binding globulin and higher triglycerides over high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TGs/HDL-C) ratio (P = .002 overall, HW vs NHB [P = .009] vs NHW [P = 0.020]), although homeostasis model assessment of estimated insulin resistance was worst in NHB (P = .010 overall, NHW vs NHB P = .014). Fasting and 2-hour OGTT glucose were not different between groups, although glycated hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) was lowest in NHW (overall P < .001, NHW 5.2 ± 0.3 vs HW 5.5 ± 0.3 P < .001 vs 5.7 ± 0.4%, P < .001). The frequency of hepatic steatosis (HW 62%, NHW 42%, NHB 25%, P = .032); low HDL-C < 40 mg/dL (HW 82%, NHW 61%, NHB 50%, P < .001) and prediabetes HbA_1c 5.7% to 6.4% (NHB 50%, HW 36%, NHW 5%, P < .001) were different between the groups.

Conclusion

Adolescents with PCOS appear to show similar racial and ethnic variation to the general population in terms of metabolic disease components.

Association of Baseline Characteristics With Insulin Sensitivity and β-Cell Function in the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) Study Cohort

OBJECTIVE

We investigated sex and racial differences in insulin sensitivity, β-cell function, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the associations with selected phenotypic characteristics.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 3,108 GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study) participants. All had type 2 diabetes diagnosed <10 years earlier and were on metformin monotherapy. Insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were evaluated using the HOMA of insulin sensitivity and estimates from oral glucose tolerance tests, including the Matsuda Index, insulinogenic index, C-peptide index, and oral disposition index (DI).

RESULTS

The cohort was 56.6 ± 10 years of age (mean ± SD), 63.8% male, with BMI 34.2 ± 6.7 kg/m2, HbA1c 7.5 ± 0.5%, and type 2 diabetes duration 4.0 ± 2.8 years. Women had higher DI than men but similar insulin sensitivity. DI was the highest in Black/African Americans, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, and Whites in descending order. Compared with Whites, American Indians/Alaska Natives had significantly higher HbA1c, but Black/African Americans and Asians had lower HbA1c. However, when adjusted for glucose levels, Black/African Americans had higher HbA1c than Whites. Insulin sensitivity correlated inversely with BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, triglyceride-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), and the presence of metabolic syndrome, whereas DI was associated directly with age and inversely with BMI, HbA1c, and TG/HDL-C.

CONCLUSIONS

In the GRADE cohort, β-cell function differed by sex and race and was associated with the concurrent level of HbA1c. HbA1c also differed among the races, but not by sex. Age, BMI, and TG/HDL-C were associated with multiple measures of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

Impact of Maternal HbA1c Levels ≤6% and Race in Nondiabetic Pregnancies on Birthweight and Early Neonatal Hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether pregnancy glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of ≤6% and maternal race impacts neonatal hypoglycemia and birthweight, and whether diabetes and beta blocker use during pregnancy additively impacts neonatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of 4769 infants born at ≥34 weeks; 21 482 glucose measurements were assessed. Predefined groups were infants born to mothers without documented pregnancy conditions (group N), prenatal exposure of beta blockers (group B), diabetes (group D), or both (group DB).

RESULTS

In group N, both in Caucasian (Caucasian, n = 1756; β = 2.6, P < .001) and African American (n = 1872; β = 2.2, P = .002) race, there was a direct relationship between pregnancy HbA1c levels and birthweight. HbA1c (aOR 1.8; 95% CI [1.3-2.5]) levels, maternal race, prematurity, cesarean delivery, and birth weight predicted hypoglycemia. Each 0.1% increase in HbA1c levels between 4.8 and 6 increased the odds of neonatal hypoglycemia by 6.4% in African American (β 0.62, SE 0.22, P = .01) and by 12.0% in Caucasian (β 1.13, SE 0.23 P < .001) population. The odds of neonatal hypoglycemia were 1.7 (group B), 2.1 (group D), and 3.1 (group DB) times higher compared with group N.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy HbA1c levels between 4.8% and 6.0% considered acceptable during pregnancy impacts neonatal hypoglycemia and birthweight especially in Caucasian race. A third trimester HbA1c >5.2 is a potential risk factor for neonatal hypoglycemia, especially in preterm infants. Although we report new findings on the relationship between maternal HbA1c levels and neonatal outcomes, a prospective study is required to validate our findings and determine "optimal" HbA1C levels during pregnancy.

Not there yet: using data-driven methods to predict who becomes costly among low-cost patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a leading cause of Medicare spending; predicting which individuals are likely to be costly is essential for targeting interventions. Current approaches generally focus on composite measures, short time-horizons, or patients who are already high utilizers, whose costs may be harder to modify. Thus, we used data-driven methods to classify unique clusters in Medicare claims who were initially low utilizers by their diabetes spending patterns in subsequent years and used machine learning to predict these patterns.

METHODS

We identified beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes whose spending was in the bottom 90% of diabetes care spending in a one-year baseline period in Medicare fee-for-service data. We used group-based trajectory modeling to classify unique clusters of patients by diabetes-related spending patterns over a two-year follow-up. Prediction models were estimated with generalized boosted regression, a machine learning method, using sets of all baseline predictors, diabetes predictors, and predictors that are potentially-modifiable through interventions. Each model was evaluated through C-statistics and 5-fold cross-validation.

RESULTS

Among 33,789 beneficiaries (baseline median diabetes spending: $4153), we identified 5 distinct spending patterns that could largely be predicted; of these, 68.1% of patients had consistent spending, 25.3% had spending that rose quickly, and 6.6% of patients had spending that rose progressively. The ability to predict these groups was moderate (validated C-statistics: 0.63 to 0.87). The most influential factors for those with progressively rising spending were age, generosity of coverage, prior spending, and medication adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes who were initially low spenders exhibit distinct subsequent long-term patterns of diabetes spending; membership in these patterns can be largely predicted with data-driven methods. These findings as well as applications of the overall approach could potentially inform the design and timing of diabetes or cost-containment interventions, such as medication adherence or interventions that enhance access to care, among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Study protocol: Using peer support to aid in prevention and treatment in prediabetes (UPSTART)

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate effective and scalable interventions to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

In this randomized controlled pragmatic trial, 296 adults with prediabetes will be randomized to either a peer support arm or enhanced usual care. Participants in the peer support arm meet face-to-face initially with a trained peer coach who also is a patient at the same health center to receive information on locally available wellness and diabetes prevention programs, discuss behavioral goals related to diabetes prevention, and develop an action plan for the next week to meet their goals. Over six months, peer coaches call their assigned participants weekly to provide support for weekly action steps. In the final 6 months, coaches call participants at least once monthly. Participants in the enhanced usual care arm receive information on local resources and periodic updates on available diabetes prevention programs and resources. Changes in A1c, weight, waist circumference and other patient-centered outcomes and mediators and moderators of intervention effects will be assessed.

RESULTS

At least 296 participants and approximately 75 peer supporters will be enrolled.

DISCUSSION

Despite evidence that healthy lifestyle interventions can improve health behaviors and reduce risk for T2DM, engagement in recommended behavior change is low. This is especially true among racial and ethnic minority and low-income adults. Regular outreach and ongoing support from a peer coach may help participants to initiate and sustain healthy behavior changes to reduce their risk of diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT03689530.

Sociodemographic disparities in the management of type 2 diabetes in the United States

Objective: To examine the potential sociodemographic disparities in type 2 diabetes (T2D) management and care among US adult individuals, after controlling for clinical and behavioral factors.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of individuals with T2D (N = 4552) from a linked database of the National Health and Wellness Survey and a large US ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) database. This study period was between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018 and individuals were followed up for at least 6 months through EHR after the completion of the survey. The sociodemographic characteristics included gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment status, household income, insurance status, and geographic region. The independent variables included testing and control of HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C); hypoglycemia, emergency room (ER) visits, and all-cause hospitalization. Multivariable analyses were conducted using generalized linear models.Results: The percentage of uncontrolled HbA1c was 38.6%. With clinical and behavioral characteristics adjusted, individuals living in the Northeast region had 30% higher odds of having HbA1c testing than those who lived in the South. Blacks and Asians were less likely to have HbA1c control than Whites. Uninsured individuals had a lower likelihood of receiving HbA1c, BP, or LDL-C testing compared with commercial insurers. Individuals with low income were more likely to have higher ER visits and hospitalizations.Conclusion: Potential sociodemographic disparities exist in T2D management and care in the US, indicating the needs for improvement in healthcare access, educational and behavioral programs, as well as disease and treatment management in these subgroups.

Racial and Regional Disparities in Outcomes Among Veterans Initially Adherent to Oral Antidiabetic Therapies: an Observational Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Adherence to prescribed medications is connected with, but is not a guarantee of, improved disease management and health outcomes. It remains unclear whether underlying health disparities exist among patients adherent to therapy and whether differences in outcomes vary by race and residential areas of the country.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent of racial and regional variation in outcomes within 5 years of oral antidiabetic drug initiation among veterans adherent to therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of 83,265 US Veterans Health Administration data, 2002-2014 PATIENTS: US veterans with uncomplicated diabetes and taking oral antidiabetic agents MAIN MEASURES: Veterans initially adherent to oral antidiabetic therapy were followed for up to 5 years, and comparisons focused on differences between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black veterans across geographic region and residential type (urban or rural). Outcomes included composite cardiovascular events, composite cerebrovascular events, or all-cause mortality using Poisson and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.

KEY RESULTS

Cardiovascular event and all-cause mortality rates differed by race and region, while urban/rural differences were evident for cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality. For non-Hispanic Blacks, the mortality rate was half that compared to non-Hispanic Whites (6.5 [95% CI 5.8-7.2] versus 13.3 [95% CI 12.9-13.8], p < 0.0001). Compared to the Northeast, all other regions had higher adjusted hazards for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (with a single exception), but no regional differences in all-cause mortality were observed. Models with interactions demonstrated that racial differences in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality were isolated to the Midwest (HR 1.99 [95% CI 1.301-3.06; HR 1.64 [95% CI 1.210-2.215]) and South (HR 1.69 [85% CI 1.347-2.131]; HR 1.27 [95% CI 1.095-1.470]).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite adherence to therapy, differences in outcomes are likely among veterans with diabetes based on race and geography. Localized analyses may uncover specific social determinants contributing to differences in outcomes.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Glycemic Control in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: United States 2003-2014

The aim of this study was to determine whether racial differences in HbA1c persist in older adults (≥65 years) living with type 2 diabetes. Data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2014 were used to examine the association between HbA1c and older adults (≥65 years) over time. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Mexican Americans had the greatest difference in average HbA1c among minority groups, followed by those with unspecified/mixed ethnicities and non-Hispanic Blacks. In the adjusted linear model, racial minorities had a statistically significant relationship with HbA1c. There was no relationship between HbA1c and older age and insulin use. Trends in mean HbA1c over time increased for non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican Americans and decreased for non-Hispanic Whites. The findings suggest that racial differences in HbA1c persist into older age and compared to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican Americans are at an increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and disability due to high HbA1c. Furthermore, alternate measures of glycemic control may be needed to screen and manage T2DM in racial minorities.

Association of Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND

Sarcoidosis, one of the most common interstitial lung diseases, has significant health disparities. Approximately 50% of individuals affected with sarcoidosis will undergo spontaneous remission, but those who do not undergo remission often require long-term or lifelong treatment to prevent disease progression. We sought to assess the association between medication adherence and clinical outcomes in sarcoidosis.

METHODS

Adult patients in the Johns Hopkins Sarcoidosis Clinic diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis on treatment were eligible for enrollment. Questionnaires were administered to assess medication adherence, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), health-care utilization, and sociodemographic information. Clinical information was abstracted from medical charts including lung function, disease duration, comorbidities, and sarcoidosis organ involvement.

RESULTS

A total of 117 participants were enrolled (57% women; 55% black; median age, 57 years). Within the cohort, 66% of individuals reported at least one nonadherent behavior. Higher medication adherence was associated with better HRQoL (P < .05). There was no association between medication adherence and the odds of health-care utilization, FVC % predicted, FEV₁ % predicted, or diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide % predicted. Black participants reported lower medication adherence than white participants (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first observational study of medication adherence in sarcoidosis. We found that higher medication adherence was associated with better HRQoL, with blacks more likely to report nonadherence. Medication adherence may be an important target to improve patient-reported outcomes and health disparities in sarcoidosis.

Rationale and Design for a GRADE Substudy of Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Background: The Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) study has enrolled a racially and ethnically diverse population with type 2 diabetes, performed extensive phenotyping, and randomly assigned the participants to one of four second-line diabetes medications. The continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) substudy has been added to determine whether there are racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between average glucose (AG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). CGM will also be used to compare time in target range, glucose variability, and the frequency and duration of hypoglycemia across study groups. Methods: The observational CGM substudy will enroll up to 1800 of the 5047 GRADE study participants from the four treatment groups, including as many as 450 participants from each of 4 racial/ethnic minority groups to be compared: Hispanic White, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic African American, and non-Hispanic Other. CGM will be performed for 2 weeks in proximity to a GRADE annual visit, during which an oral glucose tolerance test will be performed and HbA1c and glycated albumin measured. Indicators of interindividual variation in red blood cell turnover, based on specialized erythrocyte measurements, will also be measured to explore the potential causes of interindividual HbA1c variations. Conclusions: The GRADE CGM substudy will provide new insights into whether differences exist in the relationship between HbA1c and AG among different racial/ethnic groups and whether glycemic profiles differ among frequently used diabetes medications and their potential clinical implications. Understanding such differences is important for clinical care and adjustment of diabetes medications in patients of different races or ethnicities.

Patient and provider perspectives on delivery of oral cancer therapies

OBJECTIVE

The introduction of oral cancer therapies presents new challenges to delivery of quality cancer care. Little is known about how patients and providers address and overcome these challenges. We conducted a qualitative study exploring the range of patient and provider perspectives on oral cancer therapies.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients and providers at a tertiary referral center and county safety-net hospital in Dallas, TX. Interviews probed perspectives on differences between parenteral chemotherapy and oral therapies, adherence, communication, and cost/insurance. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically using a deductively-driven coding scheme corresponding to the interview guide.

RESULTS

We conducted 22 patient (13 at tertiary referral center, 9 at safety-net hospital) and 10 provider (7 oncologists, 2 nurses, 1 pharmacist) interviews. Key themes from interviews included: (1) differences in parenteral chemotherapy vs. oral therapy; (2) adherence and dosing; and (3) experiences related to cost and communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly all providers described challenges engaging with and educating patients about oral cancer therapies. Despite our initial hypothesis, safety-net patients encountered few barriers accessing oral therapies compared to patients receiving care in the tertiary referral center.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Our findings will guide future interventions to monitor and support cancer patients receiving oral therapies.

Determination of factors affecting medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using a nationwide claim-based database in Japan

BACKGROUND

The extent of medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) several years after starting treatment with hypoglycemic agents remains unknown. Most previous work on medication adherence targeting this group of patients has been undertaken across a single year or is questionnaire based. This study aimed to determine medication adherence status and factors affecting adherence 3 years after initiation of hypoglycemic agents, using a nationwide medical claim-based database in Japan.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted on data from 884 subjects with T2DM to better understand medication adherence, the effects of polypharmacy, and other factors. We also investigated the effects of medication nonadherence on hemoglobin A1c levels. Proportion of days covered was defined as the number of days for which a hypoglycemic agent was prescribed and in the patient's possession to the number of days in the observation period. A proportion of days covered ≥0.8 were considered adherent, and those with a value <0.8 as nonadherence. Polypharmacy was defined as taking ≥5 medications.

RESULTS

Of the 884 patients investigated, 440 were considered adherent during the study period. Significant factors related to adherence included number of medications (3 or 4, or ≥5), male sex, age 50-<60 years, and total number of visits ≥17. Medication adherence was also a factor related to patients with hemoglobin A1c values < 7.0% at the end of the observation period.

CONCLUSIONS

We surveyed medication adherence for 3 years with post medication initiation, and found that subjects aged 50-<60 years, those with ≥3 concomitant medications, and those with a total number of visits ≥17 were more likely to be adherent and persistent, and more likely to continue their hypoglycemic agents. A high degree of medication adherence was found to have a positive influence on hemoglobin A1c levels.

Primary Care Provider Encounter Cadence and HbA1c Control in Older Patients With Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Primary care provider encounters are associated with health and well-being; however, limited evidence guides optimal primary care provider rate of visit, referred to as encounter cadence. This study measures associations between primary care provider encounter cadence and diabetes outcomes among individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 7,106 people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 were identified and followed for 36 months. Two methods measured primary care provider encounter cadence: total primary care provider encounters (frequency) and quarters with primary care provider encounter (regularity). Logistic regression measured relationships between primary care provider encounter cadence and non-insulin diabetes medication adherence, HbA1c control, emergency department visits, and inpatient admissions. Non-insulin diabetes medication adherence was defined according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set specifications and measured using healthcare claims data. Post-hoc models examined adherence and diabetes control among those nonadherent (n=5,212) and with noncontrolled HbA1c (n=326) during the encounter/cadence period. Data were extracted and analyzed in 2017.

RESULTS

Adjusted models indicated that both frequency (AOR=1.08, 95% CI=1.06, 1.10) and regularity (AOR=1.18, 95% CI=1.13, 1.22) of primary care provider encounters were associated with increased odds of adherence. Post-hoc analyses indicated that more frequent (AOR=1.12, 95% CI=1.10, 1.15) and regular (AOR=1.27, 95% CI=1.22, 1.33) primary care provider encounters were associated significantly with adherence and were associated directionally with HbA1c control.

CONCLUSIONS

More frequent and regular primary care provider encounters are associated with an increased likelihood of non-insulin diabetes medication adherence. These findings contribute to data needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for primary care provider encounter cadence for those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cost-effectiveness of first-line versus delayed use of combination dapagliflozin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes

The present study sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line (immediate) versus delayed use of combination dapagliflozin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes, from the perspective of the Australian healthcare system. We developed a Markov model to simulate the progress of subjects with type 2 diabetes. Decision analysis was applied to assess the cost-effectiveness of first-line combination dapagliflozin and metformin versus first-line metformin monotherapy followed by gradual addition of dapagliflozin over time. Transition probabilities, costs (in Australian dollars) and utility data were derived from published sources. All costs, years of life lived and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) lived were discounted at an annual rate of 5%. Over a 20-year model period, first-line use of combination dapagliflozin and metformin was predicted to reduce the onset of hospitalisation of heart failure, cardiovascular deaths and all cause deaths by 5.5%, 57.6% and 29.6%, respectively. An additional 2.5 years of life (discounted) and 1.9 QALYs (discounted) would be gained per patient, at a cost of AUD $23,367 (discounted) per person. These figures equated to AUD $9,535 per years of life saved (YoLS) and AUD $12,477 per QALYs saved. Sensitivity analyses indicated the results to be robust. Compared to first-line metformin monotherapy followed by gradual addition of dapagliflozin, first-line use of combination dapagliflozin and metformin is likely to be a cost-effective approach to the management of Australians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Clair P, Goldman DP, Joyce G. Racial and ethnic disparities in medication adherence among privately insured patients in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and racial and ethnic disparities in medication adherence for three widely prescribed therapeutic classes.

METHODS

We linked longitudinal claims data from a large US-based insurance provider (2011-2013) to detailed SES information to identify patients treated with oral antidiabetic (N = 56,720), antihypertensive (N = 156,468) or antihyperlipidemic (N = 144,673) medications. We measured adherence and discontinuation by therapeutic class, and conducted regression analysis to quantify the contributions of different factors in the association between race/ethnicity and medication adherence.

RESULTS

During an average follow-up period of 2.5 years, average adherence rates of Blacks and Hispanics were at least 7.5 percentage points lower than those of Whites. Controlling for demographics, health status, out-of-pocket costs, convenience of refilling prescriptions and SES attenuated the association by 30 to 50 percent, nonetheless substantial racial disparities persisted (4.1-5.8 percentage points), particularly for asymptomatic conditions. Separating adherence among existing users from those that discontinued therapies indicates that racial/ethnic disparities in adherence reflect inconsistent pill-taking rather than differential rates of discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Racial/ethnic disparities in adherence are mitigated, but persist after controlling for detailed socioeconomic measures. Interventions should focus more on improving medication adherence of existing users, particularly in treating asymptomatic conditions.

Genetic Ancestry Markers and Difference in A1c Between African American and White in the Diabetes Prevention Program

PURPOSE

HbA1c levels are higher in blacks than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). We investigated whether genetics could explain this difference in Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) participants.

METHODS

We tested (i) genetic variants causing hemoglobinopathies, (ii) a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 60 variants associated with HbA1c from genome-wide association meta-analysis, and (iii) principal component (PC) factors that capture continental ancestry derived from genetic markers distributed across the genome.

RESULTS

Of 2658 eligible DPP participants, 537 (20%) self-identified as black and 1476 (56%) as NHW. Despite comparable fasting and 2-hour glucose levels, blacks had higher HbA1c (mean ± SD = 6.2 ± 0.6%) compared with NHWs (5.8 ± 0.4%; P < 0.001). In blacks, the genetic variant causing sickle cell trait was associated with higher HbA1c [β (SE) = +0.44 (0.08)%; P = 2.1 × 10-4]. The GRS was associated with HbA1c in both blacks and NHWs. Self-identified blacks were distributed along the first PC axis, as expected in mixed ancestry populations. The first PC explained 60% of the 0.4% difference in HbA1c between blacks and NHWs, whereas the sickle cell variant explained 16% and GRS explained 14%.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of HbA1c difference between blacks and NHWs was associated with the first PC factor, suggesting that unidentified genetic markers influence HbA1c in blacks in addition to nongenetic factors.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the comparison of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c as the glycemic criterion for MetS definition in non-diabetic population in Ghana

BACKGROUND

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), owing to its ability to reflect glycemia over a relatively longer time span, is still been investigated as an adjunct test for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to identify subjects at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in some Caucasian populations. However, whether or not HbA1c can serve as an adjunct to FPG in the definition of MetS in the Ghanaian population remains unknown. This study determined the prevalence of MetS and evaluated HbA1c ≥ 5.6% and FPG ≥ 5.6 mmol/l as the glycemic component of MetS among non-diabetic population in Ghana.

METHODS

This was a case-control study conducted at St Francis Xavier Hospital, Assin Fosu, Central Region, Ghana. A total of 264 non-diabetic Ghanaian adults consisting of 158 newly diagnosed hypertensives and 106 normotensives, were recruited for the study. Fasting plasma insulin and glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profile was performed for each respondent.

RESULTS

Using the FPG as glycemic criterion, the overall MetS prevalence was 46.6%, 37.1%, and 12.5% according by the IDF, NCEP ATP III, and WHO criteria, respectively. The prevalence of MetS using the HbA1c criterion was 54.2%, 52.7%, and 42.4% by the IDF, NCEP ATP III and WHO criteria, respectively. The HbA1c criterion identified more participants with MetS compared to the FPG criterion with a good agreement between HbA1c and FPG using the IDF and NCEP ATP III criteria (κ = 0.484 to 0.899) respectively. However, the overlap between HbA1c and FPG based diagnosis of MetS was limited for the WHO criterion.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high among non-diabetics in Ghana. Introduction of HbA1c in addition to FPG in the screening of MetS improves identification of more people with MetS who would otherwise have been missed when only FPG-based diagnosis of MetS is used; with a substantial agreement with FPG, except when using the WHO criteria.

Racial Disparities in Surgical Outcomes Among Males Following Major Urologic Cancer Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Disparities in healthcare outcomes between races have been extensively described; however, studies fail to characterize the contribution of differences in distribution of covariates between groups and the impact of discrimination. This study aims to characterize the degree to which clinicodemographic factors and unmeasured confounders are contributing to any observed disparities between non-Hispanic white and black males on surgical outcomes after major urologic cancer surgery.

METHODS

Non-Hispanic white and black males undergoing radical cystectomy, nephrectomy, or prostatectomy for cancer in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2007 to 2016 were included in this analysis. The outcome of interest was Clavien III-V complications. Analysis was conducted in 2017 using the Peters-Belson method to compare the disparity in outcomes while adjusting for 13 important demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Of the 15,693 cases included with complete data, 13.0% (n=2,040) were black. There was a significantly increased rate of unadjusted Clavien III and V complications between white versus black males for radical cystectomy (21.9% vs 10.1%, p=0.005); nephrectomy (6.4% vs 3.9%, p=0.028); and radical prostatectomy (2.3% vs 1.6%, p=0.046). Adjusting for differences in age, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, functional status, smoking history, and comorbidities including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, renal failure, bleeding disorder, steroid use, unintentional weight loss, and hypertension between the groups could not explain the disparity in complications after radical cystectomy; the unexplained discrepancy was an absolute excess of 11.8% (p=0.01) in black males. There was an unexplained excess of complications in black males undergoing radical prostatectomy and nephrectomy but neither reached statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Black males undergoing radical cystectomy for cancer experienced higher complication rates than white males. Unexplained differences between the black and white males significantly contributed to the disparity in outcomes, which suggests that unmeasured factors, such as the quality of surgical or perioperative care, are playing a considerable role in the observed inequality.

SUPPLEMENT INFORMATION

This article is part of a supplement entitled African American Men's Health: Research, Practice, and Policy Implications, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Patterns of medication adherence in a multi-ethnic cohort of prevalent statin users diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the implications of a cancer diagnosis on medication adherence for pre-existing comorbid conditions, we explored statin adherence patterns prior to and following a new diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer among a multi-ethnic cohort.

METHODS

We identified adults enrolled at Kaiser Permanente Northern California who were prevalent statin medication users, newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer between 2000 and 2012. Statin adherence was measured using the proportion of days covered (PDC) during the 2-year pre-cancer diagnosis and the 2-year post-cancer diagnosis. Adherence patterns were assessed using generalized estimating equations, for all cancers combined and stratified by cancer type and race/ethnicity, adjusted for demographic, clinical, and tumor characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 cancer patients, statin adherence decreased from pre- to post-cancer diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj):0.91, 95% confidence interval (95% CI):0.88-0.94). Statin adherence decreased from pre- to post-cancer diagnosis among breast (OR_adj:0.94, 95% CI:0.90-0.99) and colorectal (OR_adj:0.79, 95% CI:0.74-0.85) cancer patients. No difference in adherence was observed among prostate cancer patients (OR_adj:1.01, 95% CI:0.97-1.05). Prior to cancer diagnosis, adherence to statins was generally higher among non-Hispanic whites and multi-race patients than other groups. However, statin adherence after diagnosis decreased only among these two populations (OR_adj:0.85, 95% CI:0.85-0.92 and OR_adj:0.86, 95% CI:0.76-0.97), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We found substantial variation in statin medication adherence following diagnosis by cancer type and race/ethnicity among a large cohort of prevalent statin users in an integrated health care setting.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Improving our understanding of comorbidity management and polypharmacy across diverse cancer patient populations is warranted to develop tailored interventions that improve medication adherence and reduce disparities in health outcomes.

The association of metformin use with prostate cancer aggressiveness among Black Americans and White Americans in a population-based study

PURPOSE

Metformin has been associated with a reduced incidence of prostate cancer and improved prostate cancer outcomes. However, whether race modifies the association between metformin use and prostate cancer aggressiveness remains uncertain. The association between metformin use and prostate cancer aggressiveness was examined separately in Black Americans (Blacks) and White Americans (Whites).

METHODS

The study population consisted of 305 Black and 195 White research participants with incident prostate cancer and self-reported diabetes from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project. High-aggressive prostate cancer was defined using a composite measure of Gleason sum, prostate-specific antigen, and clinical stage. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between metformin use and high-aggressive prostate cancer at diagnosis, separately among Whites and Blacks, with adjustment for age, screening history, site, education, insurance, and body mass index.

RESULTS

Metformin use was associated positively with high-aggressive prostate cancer in Blacks (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.05, 3.83). By contrast, a weak inverse association between metformin use and high-aggressive prostate cancer was found in Whites (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.34, 1.85).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between metformin use and prostate cancer aggressiveness may be modified by race.

Disparities in Initial Oral Antidiabetic Medication Adherence Among Veterans with Incident Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Medication nonadherence is a prevalent public health issue, particularly among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and negatively affects health outcomes. Because of the prevalence of DM among U.S. veterans, it is crucial to understand how well these patients adhere to oral antidiabetic (OAD) medication and whether certain subgroups are more likely to be nonadherent.

OBJECTIVE

To assess initial OAD medication use among veterans with uncomplicated DM and determine factors associated with adherence in the first 2 years of treatment.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study using data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse from 2002 through 2014. The first diagnosis for uncomplicated DM was determined, and then medication use was assessed following OAD initiation. OAD use was assessed by proportion of days covered (PDC) for the first 2 years of therapy using outpatient VA pharmacy records. Adherence was determined both continuously and categorically, with a PDC of ≥ 80% used to indicate adherence. Logistic regression was used to determine if certain patient characteristics were associated with being adherent to OADs.

RESULTS

A total of 148,544 veterans with uncomplicated DM were assessed, most of whom were white, aged ≥ 55 years, and initiated OAD therapy on metformin. A large portion resided in the southern part of the United States. In the first year, PDC averaged 79.2% (SD = 25.9), and 63.2% were adherent to OAD therapy; however, these numbers declined in the second year, when the average PDC was 71.3% (SD = 35.8), and only 59.1% were adherent. Over the course of both years, PDC averaged 75.3% (SD = 28.4), and 50.9% were adherent. The odds of being adherent were higher among older adults and significantly lower among veterans self-identifying as either African American (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.59-0.63), Native American (OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.61-0.75), or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.76-0.92) when compared with whites. Veterans who were either divorced/separated (OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.83-0.88) or never married (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.86-0.93) also had lower odds of being initially adherent to OAD therapy compared with those who reported being married. Being nonadherent in year 1 was highly predictive of remaining nonadherent in year 2 (OR = 12.8; 95% CI = 12.23-12.94), with only 22.2% nonadherent in the first year (8.2% overall) becoming adherent in the second year of therapy. Across both years, all minorities were less likely to be adherent (compared with whites), and average adherence differed among all geographic regions of the country.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the first year of OAD therapy, medication adherence was suboptimal among veterans with DM, and second-year results indicate that adherence is likely to decline over time. Future studies should consider deeper regional and subgroup analysis to determine what contributes to variation in medication use in communities across the country.

DISCLOSURES

This study was supported by a KL2 Career Development Grant from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Institute for Research, Innovation, Synergy and Health Equity and by resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Hung and Kovesdy are employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Opinions expressed are those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. None of the authors declared significant relevant financial conflicts of interest. Results of this study were presented as a poster at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus Conference on October 3-6, 2016, in National Harbor, Maryland.

Impact of Genetic Determinants of HbA1c on Type 2 Diabetes Risk and Diagnosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Glycated hemoglobin (A1c) is used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and monitor glycemic control. Specific genetic variants interfere with A1c and effects/frequencies of some variants vary by ancestry. In this review, we summarize findings from large trans-ethnic meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of A1c and describe some variants influencing erythrocyte biology and interfering with A1c.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent GWAS meta-analyses have revealed 60 loci associated with A1c in multi-ethnic populations. The main A1c genetic driver in African Americans is rs1050828 (G6PD). Some identified loci are located in/near genes known as monogenic causes of erythrocytic disorders (ANK1, SPTA1) or iron disorders (TMPRSS6, HFE). Uncommon genetic variants (not revealed by GWAS) that are known to cause hemoglobinopathies may also influence A1C levels, partly by interfering with laboratory assays. Specific genetic variants that have a large impact on A1c levels may influence clinical practice, especially in individuals of African descent. Efforts to reveal novel A1c loci should focus on increasing representation of GWAS in non-European ancestries, and on using better genome-wide coverage of uncommon variants that are specific to each population.

Adherence to antihyperglycemic medications and glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes: clinical consequences and strategies for improvement

Adherence to antihyperglycemic medications is often suboptimal in patients with type 2 diabetes, and this can contribute to poor glycemic control, increased hospitalization, and the development of diabetic complications. Reported adherence rates to antihyperglycemics vary widely among studies, and this may be related to differences in methodology for measuring adherence, patient populations, and other factors. Poor adherence may occur regardless of the specific regimen used and whether therapy is oral or injectable, and can be especially common in chronic, asymptomatic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. More convenient drug-administration regimens and advances in formulations and delivery devices are among strategies shown to improve adherence to antihyperglycemic therapy, especially for injectable therapy. This is exemplified by technological developments made in the drug class of glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists, which are a focus of this narrative review. Dulaglutide, albiglutide, and prolonged-release exenatide have an extended duration of action and can be administered once weekly, whereas such agents as liraglutide require once-daily administration. The convenience of once-weekly versus once-daily administration is associated with better adherence in real-world studies involving this class of agent. Moreover, provision of a user-friendly delivery device has been shown to overcome initial resistance to injectable therapy among patients with type 2 diabetes. This suggests that recent innovations in drug formulation (eg, ready-to-use formulations) and delivery systems (eg, single-dose prefilled pens and hidden, ready-attached needles) may be instrumental in encouraging patient acceptance. For physicians who aim to improve their patients' adherence to antihyperglycemic medications, it is thus important to consider the patient's therapeutic experience (treatment frequency, drug formulation, delivery device). Better adherence, powered by recent technological advances in the delivery of glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists, may thus lead to improved clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes.

Glycemic control among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

AIM

In this study, we aimed to assess the level of good glycemic control, to determine association between adherence to antidiabetic medications and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and to examine factors influencing good glycemic control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional design was employed among 369 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from four Ministry of Health health centers in 2016. A sample of 3 ml blood was taken to measure the HbA1c, and patients were asked to fill out a pretested questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, to identify independent factors associated with good glycemic control, were conducted using SPSS software version 22 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

Mean [±standard deviation (SD)] of HbA1c was 8.97 (2.02) and one fifth of patients had good glycemic control (HbA1c ⩽ 7%). Factors associated with good glycemic control were: older age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.933-0.988), high medication adherence (OR: 2.757, 95% CI: 1.308-4.693), and better health literacy (OR= 2.124, 95% CI: 1.917-4.921). Duration of diabetes mellitus (DM > 7 years) was inversely related to good glycemic control (OR = 2.255, 95% CI: 1.189-4.276).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that glycemic control was suboptimal, and factors associated with that were: older age, high medication adherence, and better health literacy. Knowledge of these factors could be an entry toward helping patients and targeting interventions to improve glycemic control and prevent diabetes-related complications.

Pre-stroke glycemia in patients with diabetes

AIMS

Hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remains uncontrolled in approximately 50% of patients in the United States. Uncontrolled T2D is associated with various vascular complications, including stroke. We studied demographic and clinical factors association with pre-stroke glycemia, indicated by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in acute stroke patients with T2D.

METHODS

Using a questionnaire, we collected demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical information from 300 acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients in one hospital. We analyzed factors associated with HbA1c in patients with history of T2D.

RESULTS

There were 111 patients with history of T2D and HbA1c measured on admission. In multivariable analyses factors associated with higher HbA1c were treatment with insulin (p=0.05), history of hyperlipidemia (p=0.01), and total cholesterol level (p=0.02). Poor adherence to T2D treatment was associated with higher HbA1c levels (p=0.006) only in a subgroup of patients with HbA1c ≥8%.

CONCLUSION

Insulin treatment and hyperlipidemia are associated with higher HbA1c levels in acute stroke patients with T2D. Poor adherence to diabetes treatment is associated with higher HbA1c levels only among patients with HbA1c ≥8%.

Examining Factors Associated With Nonadherence And Identifying Providers Caring For Nonadherent Subgroups

Objectives

To examine racial/ethnic and regional differences in medication adherence in patients with diabetes taking oral anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol lowering medications and to identify the pharmacies and prescribers who serve these communities.

Methods

Administrative claims data was analyzed for members enrolled in a large health plan in Hawaii (2008-2010) with diabetes mellitus who were taking three types of medications: 1) oral anti-diabetic medications; 2) anti-hypertensive medications; 3) cholesterol lowering medications (n=5136). The primary outcome was medication adherence based on medication possession ratios. Multivariable logistic regression models were estimated to examine the association between race/ethnicity and region to adherence to each drug class separately, followed by non-adherence to all three. Covariates included age, gender, education level, chronic conditions, copayment level, and number of prescribers and pharmacies from which the patients received their medications.

Key Findings

After adjustment for other factors, Filipinos [OR=0.58, 95%CI(0.45,0.74)], Native Hawaiians [OR=0.74, 95%CI(0.56,0.98)], and people of other race [OR=0.67, 95%CI(0.55,0.82)] were significantly less adherent to anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive medications than Japanese. For cholesterol-lowering medications, all racial and ethnic groups were significantly less adherent than Japanese, except mixed race. We also found that different racial/ethnic groups tended to use different pharmacies and prescribers, particularly in rural areas.

Conclusion

Adherence differed by race/ethnicity as well as age and region. Qualitative research involving subgroups (e.g. Filipinos, Native Hawaiians, people under age 50) is needed to identify how to adapt and enhance the effects of interventions shown to be efficacious in prior studies.

Medication adherence and glycemic control among newly diagnosed diabetes patients

BACKGROUND

Poor medication adherence can have negative consequences for the patients, the provider, the physician, and the sustainability of the healthcare system. To our knowledge, the association between medication adherence and glycemic control among newly diagnosed diabetes patients has not been studied. This study aims to bridge the gap.

METHOD

This is a retrospective cohort study of 2463 patients managed in the National Healthcare Group in Singapore with newly diagnosed diabetes. Patients were followed up for the first two years from their first medication dispensed for measuring medication adherence, proportion of days covered (PDC); and for another three years for investigating outcomes of glycemic control, emergency department visit, and hospitalization. Multivariable regressions were performed to study the association between medication adherence and the outcomes as well as the risk factors of poor adherence.

RESULTS

The prevalence of medication adherence (PDC≥80%) was 65.0% (95% CI 63.1% to 66.9%) among newly diagnosed diabetes patients in Singapore. Male, Indian, or patients without hypertension or dyslipidemia were associated with poorer medication adherence. The HbA1c level of poor adherent patients (PDC <40%) increased by 0.4 (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5) over the two years, and they were also more likely to have hospitalization (OR 2.6,95% CI 1.7 to 3.8) or emergency department visit (OR 2.4,95% CI 1.7 to 3.4) compared with the fully adherent patients (PDC=100%).

CONCLUSIONS

The medication adherence in the early stage of diabetes is important for maximizing the effectiveness of pharmaceutical therapy. Health policies or interventions targeting the improvement of medication adherence among newly diagnosed diabetes patients are in need.

Self-Care Disparities Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in the USA

Suboptimal glycemic control is more common among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) and Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Disparities in the performance of self-care behaviors may contribute to this. To synthesize knowledge on current self-care disparities, we reviewed studies from January 2011-March 2016 that included NHWs, NHBs, and Hispanics with type 2 diabetes in the USA. Self-care behaviors included diet, exercise, medications, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), self-foot exams, and not smoking. Of 1241 articles identified in PubMed, 25 met our inclusion criteria. These studies report consistent disparities in medication adherence. Surprisingly, we found consistent evidence of no disparities in exercise and some evidence of reverse disparities: compared to NHWs, Hispanics had healthier diets and NHBs had more regular SMBG. Consistent use of validated measures could further inform disparities in diet and exercise. Additional research is needed to test for disparities in self-foot exams, not smoking, and diabetes-specific problem solving and coping.

Are There Clinical Implications of Racial Differences in HbA1c? Yes, to Not Consider Can Do Great Harm!

Studies that have compared HbA1c levels by race have consistently demonstrated higher HbA1c levels in African Americans than in whites. These racial differences in HbA1c have not been explained by measured differences in glycemia, sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, access to care, or quality of care. Recently, a number of nonglycemic factors and several genetic polymorphisms that operate through nonglycemic mechanisms have been associated with HbA1c Their distributions across racial groups and their impact on hemoglobin glycation need to be systematically explored. Thus, on the basis of evidence for racial differences in HbA1c, current clinical guidelines from the American Diabetes Association state: "It is important to take…race/ethnicity…into consideration when using the A1C to diagnose diabetes." However, it is not clear from the guidelines how this recommendation might be actualized. So, the critical question is not whether racial differences in HbA1c exist between African Americans and whites; the important question is whether the observed differences in HbA1c level are clinically meaningful. Therefore, given the current controversy, we provide a Point-Counterpoint debate on this issue. In the point narrative below, Dr. Herman provides his argument that the failure to acknowledge that HbA1c might be a biased measure of average glycemia and an unwillingness to rigorously investigate this hypothesis will slow scientific progress and has the potential to do great harm. In the counterpoint narrative that follows Dr. Herman's contribution, Dr. Selvin argues that there is no compelling evidence for racial differences in the validity of HbA1c as a measure of hyperglycemia and that race is a poor surrogate for differences in underlying causes of disease risk.-William T. CefaluEditor in Chief, Diabetes Care.

Comorbid depression is differentially associated with longitudinal medication nonadherence by race/ethnicity in patients with type 2 diabetes

The aim of the study was to examine whether depression impacts medication nonadherence (MNA) over time and determine if race has a differential impact on MNA in patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbid depression.Generalized estimating equations were used with a longitudinal national cohort of 740,197 veterans with type 2 diabetes. MNA was the main outcome defined by <80% medication possession ratio for diabetes medications. The primary independent variable was comorbid depression. Analyses were adjusted for the longitudinal nature of the data and covariates including age, sex, marital status, and rural/urban residence.In adjusted models, MNA was higher in non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) (odds ratio [OR] 1.58 [95% confidence interval-CI: 1.57, 1.59]), Hispanics (OR 1.34 [95% CI: 1.32, 1.35]), and the other/missing racial/ethnic group (OR 1.37 [95% CI: 1.36, 1.38]) than in non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). In stratified analyses, the odds of MNA associated with depression were highest in NHWs (OR 1.14 [95% CI: 1.12, 1.15]) and were significantly associated in the other 3 minority racial/ethnic groups. MNA was lower in rural than urban NHWs (OR 0.91 [95% CI: 0.90, 0.92]), NHBs (OR 0.92 [95% CI: 0.91, 0.94]), and the other/unknown racial/ethnic group (OR 0.89 [95% CI: 0.88, 0.90]), but higher in rural Hispanic patients (OR 1.12 [95% CI: 1.09, 1.14]).Depression was associated with increased odds of MNA in NHWs, as well as in minority groups, although associations were weaker in minority groups, perhaps as a result of the high baseline levels of MNA in minority groups. There were also differences by race/ethnicity in MNA in rural versus urban subjects.

Understanding Experiences of Diabetes Medications Among African Americans Living With Type 2 Diabetes

African American (AA) adults are disproportionally affected by type 2 diabetes and are diagnosed at an earlier age, but are less adherent to diabetes medications compared with the general population. This qualitative study sought to describe the experiences of taking diabetes medications among midlife AA men and women with type 2 diabetes and to identify factors that influence these experiences. Fifteen AAs completed semistructured interviews. Using the Roy adaptation model, thematic analysis coded for both adaptive and ineffective experiences. Adaptive experiences included self-confidence in one's ability to control diabetes, a belief in the value of diabetes medication, assuming responsibility for one's health, developing a routine for taking medication, and positive relationships with the care team. Ineffective experiences for medication taking included: feeling powerless over diabetes, self-blame, and fear. One's self-concept as a person with diabetes, as well as assuming the role of "medication taker," were prominent themes.

Development of a new diabetes medication self-efficacy scale and its association with both reported problems in using diabetes medications and self-reported adherence

BACKGROUND

Although there are several different general diabetes self-efficacy scales, there is a need to develop a self-efficacy scale that providers can use to assess patient's self-efficacy regarding medication use. The purpose of this study was to: 1) develop a new diabetes medication self-efficacy scale and 2) examine how diabetes medication self-efficacy is associated with patient-reported problems in using diabetes medications and self-reported adherence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult English-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from a family medicine clinic and a pharmacy in Eastern North Carolina, USA. The patients were eligible if they reported being nonadherent to their diabetes medicines on a visual analog scale. Multivariable regression was used to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and the number of reported diabetes medication problems and adherence.

RESULTS

The diabetes medication self-efficacy scale had strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha =0.86). Among a sample (N=51) of mostly African-American female patients, diabetes medication problems were common (6.1±3.1) and a greater number of diabetes medications were associated with lower medication adherence (odds ratio: 0.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.13, 0.89). Higher medication self-efficacy was significantly related to medication adherence (odds ratio: 1.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.30) and inversely related to the number of self-reported medication problems (β=-0.13; P=0.006).

CONCLUSION

Higher diabetes medication self-efficacy was associated with fewer patient-reported medication problems and better medication adherence. Assessing medication-specific self-efficacy may help to identify medication-related problems that providers can help the patients address, potentially improving adherence and patient outcomes.

Medication Adherence With Diabetes Medication: A Systematic Review of the Literature

PURPOSE

The primary purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence regarding risk factors associated with nonadherence to prescribed glucose-lowering agents, the impact of nonadherence on glycemic control and the economics of diabetes care, and the interventions designed to improve adherence.

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaborative, BIOSIS, and the Health and Psychosocial Instruments databases were searched for studies of medication adherence for the period from May 2007 to December 2014. Inclusion criteria were study design and primary outcome measuring or characterizing adherence. Published evidence was graded according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists protocol for standardized production of clinical practice guidelines.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-six published articles were reviewed; 98 met inclusion criteria. Factors including age, race, health beliefs, medication cost, co-pays, Medicare Part D coverage gap, insulin use, health literacy, primary nonadherence, and early nonpersistence significantly affect adherence. Higher adherence was associated with improved glycemic control, fewer emergency department visits, decreased hospitalizations, and lower medical costs. Adherence was lower when medications were not tolerated or were taken more than twice daily, with concomitant depression, and with skepticism about the importance of medication. Intervention trials show the use of phone interventions, integrative health coaching, case managers, pharmacists, education, and point-of-care testing improve adherence.

CONCLUSION

Medication adherence remains an important consideration in diabetes care. Health professionals working with individuals with diabetes (eg, diabetes educators) are in a key position to assess risks for nonadherence, to develop strategies to facilitate medication taking, and to provide ongoing support and assessment of adherence at each visit.

Impact on glycated haemoglobin of a biological response-based measure of medication adherence

AIMS

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between a specific glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement and a pharmaceutical dispensings-based measure of adherence calculated over the 90 days before each HbA1c measure among patients who have newly initiated metformin therapy.

METHODS

We identified 3109 people with type 2 diabetes who initiated metformin as their first-ever antihyperglycaemic drug, analysing all 9918 HbA1c measurements that were taken over the next 2 years. We used an adaptation of the 'proportion of days covered' method for assessing medication adherence that corresponded to an ∼90-day interval preceding an HbA1c measurement, terming the adaptation the 'biological response-based proportion of days covered' (BRB-PDC). To account for multiple observations per patient, we analysed the association between HbA1c and BRB-PDC within the generalized estimating equation framework. Analyses were stratified by HbA1c level before metformin initiation using a threshold of 8% (64 mmol/mol).

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment using 0% adherence as the reference category, BRB-PDC in the range 50-79% was associated with HbA1c values lower by -0.113 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.202, -0.025] among patients with pre-metformin HbA1c <8%, and by -0.247 (95% CI -0.390, -0.104) among those with HbA1c ≥8% at metformin initiation. Full adherence (≥80%) was associated with HbA1c values lower by -0.175% (95% CI -0.257, -0.093) and by -0.453% (95% CI -0.586, -0.320).

CONCLUSIONS

Using this novel short-interval approach that more closely associates adherence with the expected biological response, the association between better adherence and HbA1c levels was considerably stronger than has been previously reported; however, the strength of the impact was dependent upon the HbA1c level before initiating metformin.

Reach and Validity of an Objective Medication Adherence Measure Among Safety Net Health Plan Members with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

With the expansion of Medicaid and low-cost health insurance plans among diverse patient populations, objective measures of medication adherence using pharmacy claims could advance clinical care and translational research for safety net care. However, safety net patients may experience fluctuating prescription drug coverage, affecting the performance of adherence measures.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of continuous medication gap (CMG) for diverse, low-income managed care members with diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted this cross-sectional analysis using administrative and clinical data for 680 members eligible for a self-management support trial at a nonprofit, government-sponsored managed care plan. We applied CMG methodology to cardiometabolic medication claims for English- , Cantonese- , or Spanish-speaking members with diabetes. We examined inclusiveness (the proportion with calculable CMG) and selectivity (sociodemographic and medical differences from members without CMG). For validity, we examined unadjusted associations of suboptimal adherence (CMG >  20%) with suboptimal cardiometabolic control.

RESULTS

429 members (63%) had calculable CMG. Compared with members without CMG, members with CMG were younger, more likely employed, and had poorer glycemic control but had better blood pressure and lipid control. Suboptimal adherence occurred more frequently among members with poor cardiometabolic control than among members with optimal control (28% vs. 12%, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

CMG demonstrated acceptable inclusiveness and validity in a diverse, low-income safety net population, comparable with its performance in studies among other insured populations. CMG may provide a useful tool to measure adherence among increasingly diverse Medicaid populations, complemented by other strategies to reach those not captured by CMG.

Ethnic/racial determinants of glycemic markers in a UK sample

OBJECTIVE

To investigate possible causes for previously reported glycemia-independent South Asian-white differences in HbA1c.

METHODS

Demographic and laboratory data on non-diabetic patients from primary care were analyzed. Linear regression models measured the association between race/ethnicity and three glycemic measures (HbA1c, fructosamine and fasting plasma glucose), adjusted for a range of hematological, biochemical and demographic factors.

RESULTS

Nine hundred and forty-eight patients consisting of 711 white subjects (407 women) and 237 South Asian subjects (138 women) were studied. Unadjusted bivariate analysis showed that South Asians had higher HbA1c concentrations [41 (5.9 %) vs. 40 (5.8 %) mmol/mol (p = 0.011), coefficient 1.21, 95 % CI 0.27, 2.17 (p = 0.011)] similar fructosamine [228.4 vs. 226.7 mmol/L (p = 0.352), coefficient 3.93, 95 % CI 0.79, 7.08 (p = 0.014)] and fasting plasma glucose [5.1 vs. 5.2 mmol/L (p = 0.154), coefficient -0.09, 95 % CI -0.22, -0.04 (p = 0.156)] concentrations than whites. South Asians also had lower hemoglobin, ferritin and vitamin B12 concentrations than whites. After adjustment for independent variables, South Asian ethnicity was associated with higher HbA1c concentrations [0.89, 95 % CI 0.06-1.72 (p = 0.035)], higher fructosamine levels [3.93, 95 % CI 0.79, 7.08 (p = 0.014)] and lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations [-0.12, 95 % CI -0.26, -0.02 (p = 0.026)] compared to white race.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased prevalence of hematological abnormalities in South Asians and their higher adjusted HbA1c and fructosamine but lower fasting glucose levels compared to white subjects suggest that ethnic differences in glycation markers may, in part, be due to a combination of erythrocyte factors and glycemia-independent glycation.

Assessing the effectiveness of pharmacist-directed medication therapy management in improving diabetes outcomes in patients with poorly controlled diabetes

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare medication adherence rates and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) health outcomes in a sample of underserved patients with suboptimally controlled T2DM (A1C >7%) who had received pharmacist-directed medication therapy management (MTM) to those who had not received MTM.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 100 patient records was conducted. For the MTM group, a pharmacist engaged patients in patient-centered services to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Non-MTM patients received usual care. Outcomes were A1C, medication adherence, blood pressure, lipids, and creatinine. Group comparisons on clinical outcomes were analyzed before and after matching MTM and non-MTM patients on demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Before matching, the MTM group had a higher rate of medication adherence than the non-MTM group. The A1C levels were lower in the MTM group compared to the non-MTM group. Similarly, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was lower in the MTM group compared to the non-MTM group. After matching, medication adherence rate remained higher in the MTM group than the non-MTM group. Similarly, A1C levels remained lower in the MTM group than the non-MTM group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of research focused on behavioral interventions for improving health outcomes in underserved communities. Our results advance the existing literature by demonstrating a positive association between pharmacist-directed MTM, medication adherence, and glycemic control in a sample of underserved patients with suboptimally controlled T2DM. A prospective pharmacy intervention and examination of long-term effects of MTM on medication adherence and T2DM health outcomes in this population is warranted.

Racial ethnic differences in type 2 diabetes treatment patterns and glycaemic control in the Boston Area Community Health Survey

OBJECTIVES

Numerous studies continue to report poorer glycaemic control, and a higher incidence of diabetes-related complications among African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans as compared with non-Hispanic Caucasians with type 2 diabetes. We examined racial/ethnic differences in receipt of hypoglycaemic medications and glycaemic control in a highly insured Massachusetts community sample of individuals with type 2 diabetes.

SETTING

Community-based sample from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

682 patients with physician-diagnosed diabetes from the third wave of the Boston Area Community Health Survey (2010-2012). The study included approximately equal proportions of African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians.

METHODS

We examined racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes treatment by comparing proportions of individuals on mutually exclusive diabetes treatment regimens across racial/ethnic subgroups. Using multivariable linear and logistic regression, we also examined associations between race/ethnicity and glycaemic control in the overall population, and within treatment regimens, adjusting for age, gender, income, education, health insurance, health literacy, disease duration, diet and physical activity.

RESULTS

Among those treated (82%), the most commonly prescribed antidiabetic regimens were biguanides only (31%), insulin only (23%), and biguanides and insulin (16%). No overall racial/ethnic differences in treatment or glycaemic control (per cent difference for African-Americans: 6.18, 95% CI -1.00 to 13.88; for Hispanic-Americans: 1.01, 95% CI -10.42 to 12.75) were observed. Within regimens, we did not observe poorer glycaemic control for African-Americans prescribed biguanides only, insulin only or biguanides combined with insulin/sulfonylureas. However, African-Americans prescribed miscellaneous regimens had higher risk of poorer glycaemic control (per cent difference=23.37, 95% CI 7.25 to 43.33). There were no associations between glycaemic levels and Hispanic ethnicity overall, or within treatment regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest a lack of racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes treatment patterns and glycaemic control in this highly insured Massachusetts study population. Future studies are needed to understand impacts of increasing insurance coverage on racial/ethnic disparities in treatment patterns and related outcomes.

Association of visit-to-visit variability of hemoglobin A1c and medication adherence

BACKGROUND

Medication nonadherence is widespread, but there are few efficient means of detecting medication nonadherence at the point of care. Visit-to-visit variability in clinical biomarkers has shown inconsistent efficiency to predict medication adherence.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the performance of visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of hemoglobin A1c to predict nonadherence to antidiabetic medications.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study using a clinical and administrative database, adult members of a managed care plan at a safety-net medical center from 2008 to 2012 were included if they had ≥ 3 noninsulin antidiabetic prescription fills within the same class and ≥ 3 A1c measurements between the first and last prescription fills. The independent variable was VVV of A1c (within-subject standard deviation of A1c), and the dependent variable was medication adherence (defined by medication possession ratio) determined from pharmacy claims. Unadjusted and adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were created to examine the relationship between VVV of A1c and medication nonadherence. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the performance of the adjusted model at discriminating adherence from nonadherence.

RESULTS

Among 632 eligible subjects, mean A1c was 7.7% ± 1.3%, and 83% of the sample was nonadherent to antidiabetic medications. Increasing quintiles of VVV of A1c and medication nonadherence were both associated with increased within-subject mean A1c and younger subject age. The logistic regression model (adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, within-subject mean A1c, number of A1c measurements, number of days between the first and last antidiabetic medication prescription fills, and rate of primary care visits during the study period) showed a nonsignificant association of VVV of A1c and medication nonadherence (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.42-3.38 for the highest quintile of VVV). Adding VVV of A1c to a model including age, sex, and race only modestly improved the C-statistic of the ROC curve from 0.6786 to 0.7064.

CONCLUSIONS

VVV of A1c is not a robust predictor of antidiabetic medication nonadherence. Further innovation is needed to develop novel methods of detecting nonadherence.

Factors affecting medication adherence trajectories for patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between patient characteristics and medication adherence trajectories for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

STUDY DESIGN

Historical prospective study.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of data assembled for the Practice Variation and Care Outcomes (PRAVCO) study, which examined patterns of cardiovascular care. We used group based trajectory modeling to define medication adherence trajectories, and then modeled factors associated with belonging to a trajectory group during the 6year period from 2005 to 2010 (n = 10,986). We focused on the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for secondary prevention of CHF.

RESULTS

Four trajectory groups were optimal in characterizing adherence level patterns: 1) low adherence group, with an initial average adherence rate of 62% that dropped to between 40% and 50%; 2) increasing adherence group, with an initial average adherence rate of 55% that increased to 90%; 3) decreasing adherence group, with an initial average adherence rate above 90% that decreased to 60%; 4) high adherence group, with an average adherence rate consistently above 90%. Age, region, education, smoking, and race were all significantly associated with the likelihood of belonging to a particular trajectory. Nonwhites were less likely to be in the high adherence group, and smoking was more common in the low adherence group (22%) than in the high group (10%); increasing body mass index and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores were also associated with being in the low adherence group.

CONCLUSIONS

Population characteristics associated with sustained low adherence might be used to target interventions and improve vulnerable patients' prospects of heart health.

Exploring illness beliefs about diabetes among individuals with type 2 diabetes

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore illness beliefs among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), studied in a clinical setting in the Indian context. Diabetes management lies primarily in the hands of the patient, which signifies the need for understanding the various dimensions of individuals’ illness beliefs. While past research from abroad has stressed the need for understanding the patient’s perspective in effective illness management, the lack of studies in the Indian context calls for further research in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing on the Self-Regulation Model (Leventhal et al., 1980), semi-structured interviews were carried out to understand the beliefs about diabetes among individuals diagnosed to have T2DM. In total, 70 individuals with T2DM were included, taking into account the disease duration, urban-rural, age and gender distinctions. The data were analyzed using content analysis method.

Findings

– The results of the analysis revealed numerous sub-themes related to the perceived consequences of diabetes, control or cure issues, timeline and emotional issues as experienced by the subjects.

Research limitations/implications

– Carrying out a triangulated research with the various stakeholders, namely, diabetologists, general practitioners and other support staff like dieticians could add more value to this exploratory study.

Originality/value

– There is a dearth of research work that explores the illness beliefs that patients’ hold about diabetes, as discussed in the Indian context. It is expected that the insight provided by the study can help the government bodies, healthcare organizations and practitioners design and develop interventions from a patient-centric view. Additionally, such a patient-centric approach will enable individuals to achieve their treatment goals.

Clinical outcomes and incremental costs from a medication adherence pilot intervention targeting low-income patients with diabetes at risk of cost-related medication nonadherence

PURPOSE

The extent to which reducing cost-related barriers affects diabetes outcomes and medication adherence among uninsured patients is not known. The purpose of these analyses was to understand the clinical impact and cost considerations of a prescription assistance program targeting low-income, minority patients with diabetes and at high risk for cost-related medication nonadherence.

METHODS

Patients received diabetes medications without copayments for 12 months. Change in diabetes control was calculated by using glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level at follow-up compared with baseline. Clinical data were collected from the electronic health record. Medication adherence for diabetes medications was estimated by using proportion of days covered (PDC). Incremental acquisition and per-patient costs, based on actual hospital medication costs, were calculated for different baseline HbA1c levels.

FINDINGS

Patients with baseline HbA1c levels ≥7%, ≥8%, and ≥9% experienced mean HbA1c reductions of 0.82% (P = 0.008), 1.02% (P = 0.010), and 1.47% (P = 0.010), respectively, during the 12-month period. The average PDC was 70.55%; 45.24% had a PDC ≥80%, indicating an adequate level of medication adherence. Medication adherence ≥80% was associated with ethnicity (P = 0.015), whereas mean PDC was associated with number of diabetes medication classes used (P = 0.031). Acquisition cost for 1242 prescriptions filled by 103 patients was $13,365.82, representing per-patient costs of $132.39; however, as baseline targets increased, acquisition costs decreased and per-patient costs increased from $10,682.59 and $169.56 to $6509.91 and $192.27, respectively.

IMPLICATIONS

Clinically significant reductions in HbA1c levels were achieved for all patients, although greater reductions were achieved with modest per-patient cost increases when considering patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Incorporating a multifactorial intervention to address cost-related medication nonadherence with a behavior change component may yield greater reductions in HbA1c with improved diabetes outcomes and meaningful hospital-based cost savings.