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  • Title: Effects of medication adherence on healthcare services use among asthma patients.
    Author: Nittala A, Nahmens I, Ikuma L, Thomas D.
    Journal: J Healthc Qual Res; 2019; 34(6):301-307. PubMed ID: 31722847.
    Abstract:
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Medication adherence is an important indicator of quality in healthcare, and non-adherence is associated with increased healthcare costs, hospital admissions, re-admissions, and decline in health outcomes. Despite the availability of medication to control and avoid adverse health outcomes, adherence to medications among asthma patients varies between 40% and 60%. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of asthma medication adherence on healthcare services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is based on insurance claims data for Medicaid patients primarily diagnosed with asthma during 2015-2016. A regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between control and rescue medication adherence with healthcare use (hospital admissions and re-admissions, clinic visits, and emergency department visits), as well as patient demographics (age, gender, and estimated income). RESULTS: This study found a control medication adherence of 82%. Patients with high rescue medication adherence had fewer emergency department visits (p=.0004) and inpatient admissions (p=.0303). Patients with more than 4 clinic visits had higher rescue medication adherence. Older and low-income patients had higher 30-day re-admissions. Males and low-income patients had more emergency visits. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that certain populations (older, low-income, and male) may benefit from additional education on monitoring and controlling asthma. This may reduce costlier healthcare services use in favor of less expensive physician visits and education programs.
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