OBJECTIVE: To find out if patients with multiple sclerosis adhere to treatment with beta interferons and glatiramer acetate, the percentage of withdrawal and its causes. METHODS: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, national, multicentre study which selected multiple sclerosis patients who attended the hospital pharmacy department to collect their medication. The main variable was the adherence percentage during a year, measured as the relationship between the dose of the dispensed and necessary drug. Treatment withdrawals and their causes were then measured. RESULTS: Over a six-month period, 543 patients from 39 pharmacy departments were included. The average time exposed to the drugs during the study period was 312 days and the average adherence in this period was 61.5% (95% CI: 59.4-63.5). Thirty-four (6.26%) of the 543 study participants withdrew treatment, which for most cases was decided by the doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis patients' treatment adherence during a period of one year has been lower than the ideal. The causes should therefore be analysed and corrective measures established.
OBJECTIVE: To find out if patients with multiple sclerosis adhere to treatment with beta interferons and glatiramer acetate, the percentage of withdrawal and its causes. METHODS: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, national, multicentre study which selected multiple sclerosispatients who attended the hospital pharmacy department to collect their medication. The main variable was the adherence percentage during a year, measured as the relationship between the dose of the dispensed and necessary drug. Treatment withdrawals and their causes were then measured. RESULTS: Over a six-month period, 543 patients from 39 pharmacy departments were included. The average time exposed to the drugs during the study period was 312 days and the average adherence in this period was 61.5% (95% CI: 59.4-63.5). Thirty-four (6.26%) of the 543 study participants withdrew treatment, which for most cases was decided by the doctor. CONCLUSIONS:Multiple sclerosispatients' treatment adherence during a period of one year has been lower than the ideal. The causes should therefore be analysed and corrective measures established.
Authors: María Dolores Edo Solsona; Emilio Monte Boquet; Bonaventura Casanova Estruch; José Luis Poveda Andrés Journal: Patient Prefer Adherence Date: 2017-03-02 Impact factor: 2.711