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Tsioufis K, Kreutz R, Sykara G, van Vugt J, Hassan T. Impact of single-pill combination therapy on adherence, blood pressure control, and clinical outcomes: a rapid evidence assessment of recent literature. J Hypertens 2021; 38:1016-1028. [PMID: 32371789 PMCID: PMC7253190 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension raised the need for evidence to support the use of single-pill combination (SPC) therapy in preference to free-dosed therapy for hypertension. This systematic rapid evidence assessment sought to determine if initiating SPC therapy improves adherence, blood pressure (BP) control and/or cardiovascular outcomes vs. initiation of free-dose combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Tsioufis
- First Cardiology Clinic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Reinhold Kreutz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgia Sykara
- Medical Affairs, Pfizer Upjohn Hellas Ltd, Athens, Greece
| | - Joris van Vugt
- Medical Affairs, Pfizer Upjohn, Cappelle a/d Ijssel, The Netherlands
| | - Tarek Hassan
- Medical Affairs, Pfizer Upjohn, New York, New York, USA
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Falster MO, Buckley NA, Brieger D, Pearson SA. Antihypertensive polytherapy in Australia: prevalence of inappropriate combinations, 2013-2018. J Hypertens 2020; 38:1586-1592. [PMID: 32084043 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of inappropriate antihypertensive polytherapy in Australia. METHODS We used a nationally representative 10% sample of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) eligible Australians and their dispensing history to identify people aged 18+ years exposed to at least one PBS-listed antihypertensive between 2012 and 2018. We measured prevalence of antihypertensive polypharmacy (≥40 days concomitant exposure), inappropriate antihypertensive combinations (against guideline recommendations; within-class polytherapy) and combinations to be used with caution. RESULTS Almost half (47.5%) of people using antihypertensives in 2018 experienced polytherapy. Among these, 2.4% had an inappropriate combination (1.5% against guidelines; 1.0% within-class polytherapy). Inappropriate combinations were more prevalent in people experiencing polytherapy with three (3.7%) or four (16.1%) antihypertensive medicines than people on dual therapy (0.7%). Inappropriate combinations occurred at a lower rate in people using fixed-dose rather than free-drug combinations for dual therapy (0 vs. 0.7%) and in those using three antihypertensives (2.4 vs. 7.3%); this was not the case for people using four or more antihypertensives (15.5 vs. 16.1%). Between 2013 and 2018, the prevalence of antihypertensive polytherapy was relatively stable (49-47%); however, the prevalence of inappropriate combinations among these patients halved (from 5.1 to 2.4%). CONCLUSION Antihypertensive polytherapy in Australia is common, but the prevalence of inappropriate combinations is low and decreasing over time, suggesting strong awareness of Australian clinical guidelines. However, in 2018, approximately 49 000 Australian adults experienced inappropriate polytherapy; prescribing of fixed-dose combinations in patients on dual or triple therapy may further reduce this inappropriate care, although increased vigilance treating patients with more than 3 antihypertensives is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Brieger
- Department of Cardiology, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Does the Polypill Improve Patient Adherence Compared to Its Individual Formulations? A Systematic Review. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12020190. [PMID: 32098393 PMCID: PMC7076630 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many patients, especially those with a high pill burden and multiple chronic illnesses, are less adherent to medication. In medication treatments utilizing polypills, this problem might be diminished since multiple drugs are fused into one formulation and, therefore, the therapy regimen is simplified. This systematic review summarized evidence to assess the effect of polypills on medication adherence. The following databases were searched for articles published between 1 January 2000, and 14 May 2019: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Medication adherence was the only outcome assessed, regardless of the method of measuring it. Sixty-seven original peer-reviewed articles were selected. Adherence to polypill regimens was significantly higher in 56 articles (84%) compared to multiple pill regimens. This finding was also supported by the results of 13 out of 17 selected previously published systematic reviews and meta-analyses dealing with this topic. Adherence can be improved through the formulation of polypills, which is probably why the interest in researching them is growing. There are many polypills on the market, but the adherence studies so far focused mainly on a small range of medical conditions.
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DiPette DJ, Skeete J, Ridley E, Campbell NRC, Lopez-Jaramillo P, Kishore SP, Jaffe MG, Coca A, Townsend RR, Ordunez P. Fixed-dose combination pharmacologic therapy to improve hypertension control worldwide: Clinical perspective and policy implications. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2018; 21:4-15. [PMID: 30480368 DOI: 10.1111/jch.13426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Donald J DiPette
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Jamario Skeete
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.,Palmetto Health, Columbia, South Carolina
| | | | - Norm R C Campbell
- Department of Medicine, Physiology and Pharmacology and Community Health Sciences, O'Brien Institute for Public Health and Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo
- FOSCAL, UDES, Bucaramanga, Colombia.,Eugenio Espejo Medical Sciences Faculty, UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sandeep P Kishore
- Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network, New York, New York
| | - Marc G Jaffe
- Resolve to Save Lives, New York, New York.,Kaiser Permanente South, San Francisco Medical Center South, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Raymond R Townsend
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Pedro Ordunez
- Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, The Pan-American Health Organization, Washington, District of Columbia
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Verma AA, Khuu W, Tadrous M, Gomes T, Mamdani MM. Fixed-dose combination antihypertensive medications, adherence, and clinical outcomes: A population-based retrospective cohort study. PLoS Med 2018; 15:e1002584. [PMID: 29889841 PMCID: PMC5995349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of people with hypertension require more than one medication to achieve blood pressure control. Many patients are prescribed multipill antihypertensive regimens rather than single-pill fixed-dose combination (FDC) treatment. Although FDC use may improve medication adherence, the impact on patient outcomes is unclear. We compared clinical outcomes and medication adherence with FDC therapy versus multipill combination therapy in a real-world setting using linked clinical and administrative databases. METHODS AND FINDINGS We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of 13,350 individuals 66 years and older in Ontario, Canada with up to 5 years of follow-up. We included individuals who were newly initiated on one angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II-receptor blocker (ARB) plus one thiazide diuretic. High-dimensional propensity score matching was used to compare individuals receiving FDC versus multipill therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of death or hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, or stroke. We conducted 2 analyses to examine the association between adherence and patient outcomes. First, we performed an on-treatment analysis to determine whether outcomes differed between groups while patients were on treatment, censoring patients when they first discontinued treatment, defined as not receiving medications within 150% of the previous days' supply. Second, we conducted an intention-to-treat analysis that followed individuals allowing for breaks in treatment to quantify the difference in drug adherence between groups and assess its impact on clinical outcomes. As expected, there was no significant difference in the primary outcome between groups in the on-treatment analysis (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.86-1.31, P = 0.60). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the proportion of total follow-up days covered with medications was significantly greater in the FDC group (70%; IQR 19-98) than in the multipill group (42%, IQR 11-91, P < 0.01), and the primary outcome was less frequent in FDC recipients (3.4 versus 3.9 events per 100 person-years; HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.97, P < 0.01). The main limitations of this study were the lack of data regarding cause of death and blood pressure measurements and the possibility of residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS Among older adults initiating combination antihypertensive treatment, FDC therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of composite clinical outcomes, which may be related to better medication adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amol A. Verma
- Li Ka Shing Centre for Healthcare Analytics Research and Training, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Eliot Phillipson Clinician-Scientist Training Program, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wayne Khuu
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mina Tadrous
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tara Gomes
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad M. Mamdani
- Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kim H, Yoon HJ, Park HS, Cho YK, Nam CW, Han S, Hur SH, Kim YN, Kim KB. Implications of prescribing a fixed-dose combination in clinical cardiology practice: a retrospective observational study using a single medical centre database in Korea. HEART ASIA 2018; 9:e010885. [PMID: 29467832 DOI: 10.1136/heartasia-2017-010885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objective Fixed-dose combination (FDC) prescribing enhances adherence to medication. However, there are limited data regarding the usefulness of FDC drugs across different risk groups. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between FDC discontinuation and clinical outcomes. Methods From January 2008 to December 2014, patients with FDC prescriptions who visited a cardiology outpatient clinic at a tertiary university hospital in Daegu, Republic of Korea were retrospectively identified. The 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score and 20 conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors were assessed. Patients were classified according to FDC continuation, together with a tertile of 20 risks. CV events were defined as the composite of admission for worsening heart failure or diabetes, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, and CV death. Results 502 patients were prescribed with one of the following FDC products: calcium channel blocker (CCB) plus angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), CCB plus statins, and ARB plus diuretics. During follow-up (mean 2.8±2.4 years), 203 discontinuations (40.4%) occurred. FDC-discontinued patients had lower ASCVD risk scores (24.8% vs. 28.8%, p<0.001), and patients with <6 risk factors discontinued FDC frequently. During follow-up, 57 events (11.4%) were reported: 30 (14.8%) in FDC-discontinued patients and 27 (9.1%) in FDC-continued patients (p=0.062). In multivariate models accounting for events, FDC discontinuation (p<0.001) and high ASCVD risk score (p=0.017) were associated with CV events. Conclusions FDC discontinuation was common among patients attending the cardiology outpatient clinic. Our analyses suggest that FDC discontinuation in patients at high ASCVD risk may have an impact on CV event rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyungseop Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuck-Jun Yoon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung-Seob Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Kyeong Cho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Wook Nam
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongwook Han
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Hur
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Nyun Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Bae Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Pour une utilisation optimale des associations fixes de médicaments. Therapie 2017; 72:665-668. [DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hyman DJ. Hypertension: Does Polypharmacy Lead to Nonadherence or Nonadherence to Polypharmacy? Hypertension 2017; 69:1017-1018. [PMID: 28461603 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.117.09334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J Hyman
- From the Section of General Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
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Grimmsmann T, Himmel W. Comparison of therapy persistence for fixed versus free combination antihypertensives: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e011650. [PMID: 27881519 PMCID: PMC5128950 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to compare therapy persistence among patients who started with one of three drug regimens: a monotherapy, or combination therapy either as a fixed combination (ie, 'single pill') or as a free combination (ie, two separate antihypertensive agents). DESIGN In a secondary data analysis, we used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to measure the effect of the three therapy regimens on therapy persistence over 4 years. SETTING Prescription data from a large German statutory health insurance provider. PARTICIPANTS All patients who started with a new antihypertensive therapy in 2007 or 2008 (n=8032) were included and followed for 4 years. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Therapy persistence, defined as receiving a refill prescription no later than within 180 days. RESULTS The persistence rates after 4 years were nearly identical among patients who started with a monotherapy (40.3%) or a fixed combination of two drugs (39.8%). However, significantly more patients who started with free-drug combinations remained therapy persistent (56.4%), resulting in an OR of 2.00 (95% CI 1.6 to 2.5; p<0.0001) for free combinations versus fixed combinations. This trend was observed in all age groups and for men and women. At the end of the study period, the number of different antihypertensive agents was still similar between patients who started with a fixed combination (2.41) and patients who started with a free combination (2.28). CONCLUSIONS While single-pill combinations make it easier to take different drugs at once, the risk is high that these several substances are stopped at once. Therapy persistence was significantly better for patients who started with a free-drug combination without taking much fewer different antihypertensive drugs as those with a fixed combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Grimmsmann
- German Health Insurance Medical Service (MDK) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schwerin, Germany
- Department of General Practice, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Himmel
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
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Schaffer AL, Pearson SA, Buckley NA. How does prescribing for antihypertensive products stack up against guideline recommendations? An Australian population-based study (2006-2014). Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 82:1134-45. [PMID: 27302475 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS We describe choice of first-line antihypertensive drug therapy and uptake of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) in Australia, and investigate the impact of initiation on FDCs and other non-recommended first-line therapies on treatment discontinuation. METHOD This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using a random 10% sample of persons dispensed an Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listed medicine from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2014. The primary outcomes were adherence to Australian recommendations at initiation of antihypertensive therapy, discontinuation of initial therapy and discontinuation of any therapy in the first year after initiation. RESULTS In our sample of 55 937 persons initiating therapy, 42.0% did so outside Australian recommendations, including not initiating on recommended monotherapy (26.3%) and not initiating on the lowest recommended dose (30.6%). Only 1.7% of individuals who were dispensed an FDC established therapy on the free combination regimen (as recommended) prior to switching. After adjusting for covariates, persons initiating on non-recommended monotherapy (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 2.47-2.83) or FDCs of two or more antihypertensives (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.30-1.55), were more likely to discontinue all antihypertensive drug treatment in the first year compared to persons initiating on recommended monotherapy. CONCLUSION More than half of antihypertensive initiators conformed to Australian guidelines. Initiation on FDCs and other non-recommended treatments was associated with lower persistence on antihypertensive therapy in the first year. Long-term effectiveness and outcomes may be enhanced by initiating with low dose monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Schaffer
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Sallie-Anne Pearson
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Buckley
- Blackburn Building (D06), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Santos-Cab N, Barranco-G LM, Aguilar-Ca JC, Carrasco-P MDC, Flores-Mur FJ. Evaluation of the Possible Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Amlodipine, Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide in Mexican Healthy Volunteers. INT J PHARMACOL 2016. [DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2016.101.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Katsiki N, Athyros VG, Karagiannis A. Single-pill combinations: a therapeutic option or necessity for vascular risk treatment? J Drug Assess 2013; 2:67-71. [PMID: 27536439 PMCID: PMC4937652 DOI: 10.3109/21556660.2013.801605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Niki Katsiki
- Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration Hospital, ThessalonikiGreece
| | - Vasilios G Athyros
- Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration Hospital, ThessalonikiGreece
| | - Asterios Karagiannis
- Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration Hospital, ThessalonikiGreece
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