Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate adherence patterns in detail by comparing and matching electronically derived adherence data with pill count data and the effect of adherence on blood pressure reduction in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: Among a total of 228 patients with mild to moderate hypertension, adherence to treatment was measured by means of both the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) and pill count. Patients were followed up for seven visits over a period of one year. At each visit to the physician's office, patient's adherence was assessed by both methods. RESULTS: Median adherence according to MEMS was lower than median adherence according to pill count (91.6% vs. 96.1%; P < 0.001). Both methods agreed in defining patients as adherent in 107 (47%) and nonadherent in 33 (14%) cases. 31 patients (14%) were considered adherent only by MEMS and 59 patients (25%) only by pill count. At the end of the study, patients in the four categories reached comparable blood pressure values, and reductions. CONCLUSION: Pill count can be a useful adjunct to electronic monitoring in assessing adherence patterns. Although deviant intake behaviour occurred frequently, the effect on achieved blood pressure and blood pressure reduction was not remarkable.
| Translated title of the contribution | Assessing medication adherence simultaneously by electronic monitoring and pill count in patients with mild to moderate hypertension |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 9-15 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Pharmaceutisch Weekblad |
| Volume | 150 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Jan 2015 |