Electronic medication monitors help determine adherence subgroups in asthma. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Keyser, Heather E.H.; Kaye, Leanne; Anderson, William C.; Gondalia, Rahul; Theye, Ben; Szefler, Stanley J.; Stempel, David A.
• Is Part Of: Respiratory medicine. Volume 164(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Electronic medication monitoring -- Adherence -- Asthma; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Chest -- Diseases -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Thorax -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105914
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6111

Abstract

Abstract: Non-adherence to treatment regimens in asthma is well described, however less is known about temporal patterns of medication use. We monitored 20 weeks of controller medication use and analyzed these patterns in patients ≥4 years of age with self-reported asthma enrolled in a digital health program. At baseline, approximately 20%, 28%, 25% and 27% of patients had optimal, moderate, sub-optimal and poor adherence, respectively. Medication adherence decreased in all groups in this study. The largest absolute decreases in adherence (−32%) were observed for moderately adherent patients. Certain adherence patterns which demonstrated greater declines, that, once identified, could be intervened upon. Highlights: Following cohort adherence trajectories over time based on initial adherence is possible. Adherence declined in all adherence groups, with the largest relative decreases in the suboptimally adherent groups. Rescue use also declined in all groups. Electronic Medication Monitoring is a tool that may be useful in promoting patient driven care. Further study is needed on how to longitudinally engage patients.