Antiparkinson Drug Use and Adherence in Medicare Part D Beneficiaries With Parkinson’s Disease

Persistence and adherence to levodopa adjunct medications in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease: a retrospective cohort study using a Japanese claims database

Objective

We investigated treatment persistence and adherence for levodopa adjunct medications and their relationship with demographic factors in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

This longitudinal retrospective study used a Japanese health insurance claims database for levodopa adjunct medications in patients newly prescribed anti-PD drugs other than levodopa between December 2020 and November 2021. Patients with a PD diagnosis were included in this study, and 17 anti-PD drug cohorts were formed. The primary outcomes were treatment persistence and adherence over 1 year. Multivariate analysis was conducted to evaluate demographic factors associated with treatment persistence/adherence.

Results

In total, 7,605 patients were included in this analysis, with a mean age of 77.2 years, and 43.6% were male. The 1-year treatment persistence rate was 44.8%. Median persistent treatment duration over 1 year was 270.0 days. Persistence rates ranged from 28.6 to 59.5% across the drug cohorts, and were highest for zonisamide (59.5%) followed by safinamide (55.8%). The proportion of patients with proportion of days covered ≥80% (good treatment adherence) was 96.9% in the all-drugs cohort and ≥ 90% in each drug-specific cohort. In the multivariate analysis, the factor most strongly associated with non-persistence was the number of concomitant anti-PD drugs (risk ratio [RR] 0.85 per 1 unit increase), with the exception of inpatient prescriptions (RR 0.75).

Conclusion

More than half of the new anti-PD drugs added to levodopa were discontinued within 1 year, and adherence to treatment, as assessed by filling records, was extremely high in patients with PD, including the elderly population.

Therapeutic adherence and assessment of satisfaction patients with multiple myeloma treated with immunomodulatory drugs in a "real-world" study: Experiences of the Polish Myeloma Group

INTRODUCTION

Therapeutic adherence (TA) is one of the most important factors influencing the effectiveness of treatment. Oral anti-cancer drugs are increasingly used to treat malignancy including multiple myeloma (MM). Our study aimed to determine TA of patients with MM treated with IMiDs, to identify TA risk factors, and to determine satisfaction with medical care during the treatment with IMiDs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey-based study involving adult patients with MM treated with IMiDs.

RESULTS

Between January 2021 and May 2021, 267 patients with MM were enrolled in the study. The dosing schedule was declared as easy by 71.8% of patients, as standard for 24.0%, and difficult for 4.2% of patients. During MM treatment, 85.0% of patients did not skip any IMiDs dose, and 87.6% did not skip the IMiDs dose in the last cycle of chemotherapy. Identified factors affecting TA included the treatment duration and education level. In addition, depending on the patient's well-being, gender, and household companionship influenced TA. Satisfaction with medical care during the treatment with IMiDs was declared by 95.5% of patients with MM. In our cohort, 95.5% of patients were satisfied with the information they received from the hematologist during treatment with IMiDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MM treated with IMiDs are highly adherent to treatment. With time from the beginning of treatment, patients need more attention and motivation to adhere to the therapy rules.

Association between trajectories of adherence to endocrine therapy and risk of treated breast cancer recurrence among US nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Endocrine therapy is the mainstay treatment for breast cancer (BC) to reduce BC recurrence risk. During the first year of endocrine therapy use, nearly 30% of BC survivors are nonadherent, which may increase BC recurrence risk. This study is to examine the association between endocrine therapy adherence trajectories and BC recurrence risk in nonmetastatic BC survivors.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included Medicare beneficiaries in the United States (US) with incident nonmetastatic BC followed by endocrine therapy initiation in 2010-2019 US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results linked Medicare data. We calculated monthly fill-based proportion of days covered in the first year of endocrine therapy. We applied group-based trajectory models to identify distinct endocrine therapy adherence patterns. After the end of the first-year endocrine therapy trajectory measurement period, we estimated the risk of time to first treated BC recurrence within 4 years using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

We identified 5 trajectories of adherence to endocrine therapy in BC Stages 0-I subgroup (n = 28,042) and in Stages II-III subgroup (n = 7781). A trajectory of discontinuation before 6 months accounted for 7.0% in Stages 0-I and 5.8% in Stages II-III subgroups, and this trajectory was associated with an increased treated BC recurrence risk compared to nearly perfect adherence (Stages 0-I: adjusted hazard [aHR] = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.46-2.33; Stages II-III: aHR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.07-1.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 7% of BC survivors who discontinued before completing 6 months of treatment was associated with an increased treated BC recurrence risk compared to those with nearly perfect adherence among Medicare nonmetastatic BC survivors.

Pyrrole: A Decisive Scaffold for the Development of Therapeutic Agents and Structure-Activity Relationship

An overview of pyrroles as distinct scaffolds with therapeutic potential and the significance of pyrrole derivatives for drug development are provided in this article. It lists instances of naturally occurring pyrrole-containing compounds and describes the sources of pyrroles in nature, including plants and microbes. It also explains the many conventional and modern synthetic methods used to produce pyrroles. The key topics are the biological characteristics, pharmacological behavior, and functional alterations displayed by pyrrole derivatives. It also details how pyrroles are used to treat infectious diseases. It describes infectious disorders resistant to standard treatments and discusses the function of compounds containing pyrroles in combating infectious diseases. Furthermore, the review covers the uses of pyrrole derivatives in treating non-infectious diseases and resistance mechanisms in non-infectious illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The important discoveries and probable avenues for pyrrole research are finally summarized, along with their significance for medicinal chemists and drug development. A reference from the last two decades is included in this review.

Trends, characteristics, race, and ethnicity associated with nonadherence to antidepressants among breast cancer survivors with depression

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the United States, and half of breast cancer survivors experience major depressive disorders (hereafter depression). Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality measures evaluating depression treatment practices recommend uninterrupted antidepressant treatment for 3 months in the acute phase and 3 months in the continuation phase for the general population. However, little is known about the extent of and trends in antidepressant nonadherence among breast cancer survivors with depression, which may impact adherence to breast cancer treatment, potentially leading to breast cancer recurrence and other adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the trends and characteristics associated with antidepressant nonadherence among breast cancer survivors with depression in the United States. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results linked with Medicare data (2010-2019) for women with breast cancer and depression who newly initiated antidepressant use. Using HEDIS measures of nonadherence (ie, antidepressant prescription coverage ≤84 days of the 114-day acute phase or ≤180 days of the 231-day continuation phase), we calculated the annual crude prevalence of antidepressant nonadherence and examined trends using unadjusted logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression identified characteristics associated with antidepressant nonadherence. RESULTS: Among 9,452 eligible breast cancer survivors with depression (aged ≥65 years = 84% and White race = 82%), the crude prevalence of antidepressant nonadherence decreased from 2010 to 2019 for both the acute (49% to 40%; P_trend<0.001) and continuation (67% to 57%; P_trend<0.001) phases. Factors significantly associated with higher odds of antidepressant nonadherence in both the acute and continuation phases included Black race (odds ratios [ORs] [95% CI] for the acute/continuation phases: 2.0 [1.7-2.4]/2.0 [1.7-2.3]) and Hispanic ethnicity (1.5 [1.1-1.9]/2.2 [1.6-2.9]) compared with White race; receiving the first antidepressant from an oncologist vs a psychiatrist (1.4 [1.1-1.8]/1.6 [1.2-2.0]); and using antidepressants not recommended for older adults by the Beers criteria (2.2 [1.6-2.9]/2.0 [1.4-2.7]). Factors associated with lower odds of antidepressant nonadherence in both phases included receiving lymph node dissection (0.7 [0.5-0.9]/0.7 [0.5-0.9]), receiving endocrine therapy (0.9 [0.8-0.9]/0.8 [0.7-0.9]), having a higher National Cancer Institute comorbid index (0.8 [0.7-0.8]/0.9 [0.8-0.9]), having a follow-up visit with a psychiatrist (0.9 [0.8-0.9]/0.9 [0.8-0.9]), and switching to different antidepressants (0.7 [0.6-0.8]/0.7 [0.7-0.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Despite antidepressant nonadherence prevalence decreasing from 2010 to 2019, over half of breast cancer survivors with depression and Medicare were nonadherent in the continuation phase. Patients with identified nonadherence risk factors may benefit from close monitoring and targeted interventions. DISCLOSURES: Wei-Hsuan Lo-Ciganic reported grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA044985 and R01DA050676), the National Institute on Aging (R21AG060308), the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH121907), Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol Myers Squibb, the Richard King Mellon Foundation at the University of Pittsburgh, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of the University of Florida, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Foundation, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs outside the submitted work; in addition, Wei-Hsuan Lo-Ciganic has a patent pending for U1195.70174US00. Haesuk Park reported grants from Bristol Myers Squibb/Pfizer Alliance American Thrombosis Investigator Initiated Research Program (ARISTA-USA) outside the submitted work. Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo reported grants from Merck outside the submitted work. Debbie Wilson reported grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Aging, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Bristol Myers Squibb outside the submitted work; and serving as an editorial board member for the Journal of Pharmacy Technology. Ching-Yuan Chang's contributions to this manuscript were made while at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Ching-Yuan Chang is currently employed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vertex did not fund or have any involvement in this study or publication. Vakaramoko Diaby is currently employed by Otsuka, Inc. Otsuka did not fund or have any involvement in this study or publication. No other disclosures were reported.

Challenges in the clinical advancement of cell therapies for Parkinson's disease

Cell therapies as potential treatments for Parkinson's disease first gained traction in the 1980s, owing to the clinical success of trials that used transplants of foetal midbrain dopaminergic tissue. However, the poor standardization of the tissue for grafting, and constraints on its availability and ethical use, have hindered this treatment strategy. Recent advances in stem-cell technologies and in the understanding of the development of dopaminergic neurons have enabled preclinical advancements of promising stem-cell therapies. To move these therapies to the clinic, appropriate levels of safety screening, as well as optimization of the cell products and the scalability of their manufacturing, will be required. In this Review, we discuss how challenges pertaining to cell sources, functional and safety testing, manufacturing and storage, and clinical-trial design are being addressed to advance the translational and clinical development of cell therapies for Parkinson's disease.

The effect of mobile application-based rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Mobile app-based telerehabilitation is practical and cost-effective in neurological rehabilitation. The present systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mobile application-based rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

METHODS

Literature was searched via databases of "Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and ScienceDirect". Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) were used to evaluate the quality analysis and risk of bias evaluation. Both narrative and quantitative synthesis were carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 2175 articles were screened (WoS=41, PubMed=42, Cochrane=84, Scopus=114, ScienceDirect=1894). A total of 5 studies were included in the systematic review following the screening and eligibility procedures. Two studies were enrolled in meta-analysis regarding the data homogeneity. PEDro scores of the trials ranged from 4 to 7 (median:6), indicating good quality. All studies were in the "some concerns" category. The mobile application-based intervention yielded better results on quality of life and patient adherence in two studies. Application-based rehabilitation was not superior to standard treatment on MiniBESTest (ES:0.15, 95 % CI: -0.33 to 0.26) and UPDRS III (ES:0.86, 95 % CI: -0.94 to 2.46) scores.

CONCLUSION

Mobile application-based rehabilitation is not superior to standard treatments in balance and disease severity. However, mobile technologies could be preferred to increase patient adherence and quality of life. The limited study and the low number of cases in the review may reduce the level of evidence for the results.

Medication management and treatment adherence in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment

INTRODUCTION

The key feature that distinguishes mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from dementia is the absence of significant functional decline because of cognitive impairment. In Parkinson's disease patients (PD) with MCI (PD-MCI), the effect of cognitive impairment on complex instrumental daily activities, such as medication management, is not well established.

METHOD

26 patients with PD-MCI (diagnosed to Level 2 Movement Disorders Society diagnostic criteria) and 32 idiopathic PD patients without cognitive impairment participated in the study. A detailed neuropsychological testing battery (including tests for attention and working memory, executive functions, language, visuospatial functions, episodic memory) and various prospective memory tasks were applied to the patients. Medication taking behaviors were evaluated using two different methods based on the performance (medication management ability assessment) and self-reporting (adherence scale).

RESULTS

The PD-MCI group obtained significantly lower scores in medication management assessment and made more mistakes on following prescription instructions (e.g., they took more or less tablets and did not use medications as instructed with regard to meal times). Cognitive areas predicting success in medication management performance were language, event-based prospective memory and visuospatial functions. There was no significant difference between the two groups' self-reporting of adherence.

CONCLUSION

Mild cognitive impairment in patients with PD adversely affects medication management. Diagnosing MCI in PD is important to ensure that the appropriate measures can be taken to provide support and improve the medication management process. Adherence assessments based on self-reporting may not provide reliable and sensitive information in patients with PD-MCI.

The Risk of Melanoma With Rasagiline Compared With Other Antiparkinsonian Medications: A Retrospective Cohort Study in the US Medicare Database

Purpose

Compare the risk of melanoma between initiators of rasagiline or other antiparkinsonian drugs (APDs) in a Parkinson's disease (PD) population.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the US Medicare claims research database (2006–2015) in adults aged ≥65 years with PD claims. Other APD initiators were randomly matched (4:1) to rasagiline initiators on age, sex, and cohort entry year. Cutaneous melanoma events were identified by a validated claims algorithm. Incidence rates (IRs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and Cox‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for melanoma comparing rasagiline with other APD initiators were calculated and analyzed by duration of study medication use and cumulative dose of rasagiline. Potential indicators of surveillance bias were explored.

Results

Among 23 708 rasagiline initiators and 96 552 matched APD initiators, the crude IR of melanoma/100 000 person‐years was 334.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 291.5–381.6) and 208.2 (95% CI, 190.1–227.5), respectively (crude IRR 1.61; 95% CI, 1.36–1.89). The adjusted HR was 1.37 (95% CI, 1.14–1.65) and increased with longer rasagiline exposure and higher cumulative rasagiline doses. Rasagiline initiators more frequently had dermatologist visits or skin biopsies before cohort entry than APD initiators and had a higher incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer during follow‐up (crude IRR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.35–1.54).

Conclusions

A small increased incidence of melanoma with exposure to rasagiline compared with other APDs was observed. Although the pattern with dose and duration is consistent with a hypothesized biologic effect, the increased skin cancer surveillance among rasagiline users suggests surveillance bias as a contributing explanation for the observed results.

Antiparkinson drugs use and adherence in older adults and associated factors: an integrative review

Abstract Objectives To identify factors associated with antiparkinson drugs use and adherence in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD) through an integrative literature review. Method An integrative literature review involving a search for relevant publications in Portuguese, English, and Spanish on the electronic databases LILACS, MEDLINE - via PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, without restriction regarding date or study design, was carried out during the period August-September 2021. The selection of studies was performed independently by two reviewers and the final validation conducted by a third reviewer. Results After applying the eligibility criteria, 5 of the 460 studies found were included in the review. Results showed moderate adherence rates (range 35.3-66.8%) and the main factors associated with lower adherence to antiparkinson therapy were older age, cognitive deficit, greater motor impairment, multimorbidities, change in therapy regimens, depression, polypharmacy, lower education, non-white ethnicity and male gender. Factors associated with greater adherence were younger age, white ethnicity, no change in therapy regimen, higher level of knowledge about PD, good clinical control, higher educational level, married status, higher income and greater level of awareness. Conclusions Non-adherence to antiparkinsonian therapy was frequent and multifactorial., Understanding this behavior is important to help inform the scientific community and devise public policies and strategic planning in health services for improving the quality of life of the older population.

Adesão terapêutica ao uso de antiparkinsonianos em pessoas idosas e seus fatores associados: revisão integrativa

Resumo Objetivos Identificar os fatores associados à adesão terapêutica ao uso de antiparkinsonianos em idosos com Doença de Parkinson (DP) por meio de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Método Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura nos idiomas português, inglês, espanhol, nas bases de dados eletrônicas LILACS, MEDLINE - via PubMed, Web of Science e Scopus, sem restrição quanto ao tempo e desenho de estudo, realizada no período de agosto a setembro de 2021. A seleção dos estudos foi realizada de maneira independente por dois revisores e a validação final por um terceiro revisor. Resultados Após a aplicação dos critérios de elegibilidade, dos 460 estudos encontrados, foram incluídos cinco estudos que evidenciam taxas moderadas de adesão, variando de 35,3% a 66,8%, e apontam como principais fatores associados à menor adesão à terapia antiparkinsoniana: idade mais avançada, deficit cognitivo, maior comprometimento motor, multimorbidades, alteração nos regimes terapêuticos, depressão, polifarmácia, menor escolaridade, não brancos e sexo masculino. Foram fatores descritos para maior adesão: idade mais jovem, cor branca, sem modificação de regime terapêutico, maior nível de conhecimento sobre a DP, bom controle clínico, educação, ser casado, maior renda e nível de consciência. Conclusões A não adesão à terapêutica antiparkinsoniana é frequente e de dimensão multifatorial, sua compreensão torna-se relevante para subsidiar dados para a comunidade científica, objetivando a criação de políticas públicas e planejamento estratégico em serviços de saúde com o propósito de melhorar a qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa.

Factors Associated with Medication Beliefs in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Medication beliefs are a significant determinant of medication adherence in chronic illness. This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and medication-related factors associated with medication beliefs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

We used a descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 173 PD patients who had been taking antiparkinson drugs for more than one year.

RESULTS

The subjects who believed PD medication was more necessary had more severe illness, younger age of onset, longer illness duration, and longer duration of levodopa therapy. They had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression, number of medication uses, number of drugs, and levodopa equivalent dose, and they reported fluctuation of motor symptoms and dyskinesia. The subjects who used catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, dopamine agonists, amantadine, and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors had significantly higher necessity scores than those who did not use them. The subjects who had higher concerns about PD medications had higher levels of non-motor symptoms and depression. The subjects using amantadine and anticholinergics had significantly higher concern scores than those who did not use them. Positive necessity-concerns differentials were associated with severe illness, the presence of motor fluctuation and dyskinesia, and the use of COMT inhibitors. Based on stepwise multiple regression, the most significant factors influencing necessity beliefs were severe illness, followed by depression and motor fluctuation.

CONCLUSION

Severe illness, higher levels of depression, and motor fluctuation are independent factors influencing patients' beliefs regarding medication necessity. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered in medication belief assessment and interventions for PD patients.

Real-world assessment of the impact of "OFF" episodes on health-related quality of life among patients with Parkinson's disease in the United States

Background

Many patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who receive carbidopa/levodopa experience symptom reemergence or worsening, or “OFF” episodes. This study assessed the association of “OFF” episodes with health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

US-specific data from the 2017 and 2019 Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme for PD, a real-world cross-sectional survey, were used. Neurologists provided data for 10–12 consecutive patients with PD who completed the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and the EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D). Data were grouped by patients who experienced “OFF” episodes versus those who did not and by average hours of daily “OFF” time. Differences between patient groups were assessed for demographics and clinical characteristics; regression analyses were used to model the relationship between HRQoL and “OFF” episodes with age, sex, body mass index, current PD stage on the Hoehn and Yahr scale, and number of concomitant conditions related and unrelated to mobility as covariates.

Results

Data from 722 patients were analyzed. Overall, 321 patients (44%) had “OFF” episodes (mean of 2.9 h of daily “OFF” time). Patients who experienced “OFF” episodes were less likely to work full-time and more likely to live with family members other than their spouse/partner or reside in a long-term care facility than those without “OFF” episodes. The presence of “OFF” episodes, regardless of the average hours of daily “OFF” time, was significantly associated with high scores (reflecting poor HRQoL) on most PDQ-39 dimensions and the summary index and low scores (reflecting poor health status) on the EQ-5D health utility index, visual analog scale (VAS), and all dimensions. Furthermore, increased average hours of daily “OFF” time was significantly correlated with higher scores for all PDQ-39 dimensions and the summary index, as well as with the EQ-5D health utility index and VAS scores. Patients with “OFF” episodes experienced reduced HRQoL even after correcting for potentially confounding variables.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the occurrence of “OFF” episodes in patients with PD is associated with reduced HRQoL and that the impact on HRQoL increased incrementally with increasing average hours of daily “OFF” time.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02074-2.

Low Sustainment of High-Dose Oral Medication Regimens for Advanced Parkinson's Disease in Medicare Beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

Increasing doses of oral antiparkinson medications are indicated in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known about sustainment of high-dose regimens.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate sustainment of high-dose oral medication regimens in Medicare beneficiaries with incident advanced PD.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study utilized 100%fee-for-service Medicare claims from 2011-2013. We identified advanced PD using a pharmacy claims-based proxy and selected patients who initiated a new high-dose oral medication regimen (daily levodopa equivalent dose [LED] >1000 mg/day for ≥30 days) in 2012. In the following 12 months, we examined: 1) annual proportion of days covered (PDC)≥0.80 and 2) presence of a ≥ 90 day continuous gap at varying dosage thresholds: the initial >1000 mg/day, >800 mg/day, >500 mg/day, or >0 mg/day.

RESULTS

We identified 9,405 patients with advanced PD (mean age 77.4 [SD 6.8] years; 53%men). Only 5%maintained a regimen of >1000 mg/day at PDC ≥0.80; 75% had a ≥ 90-day gap in that dosage level. At a dosage threshold of >800 mg/day, 20% had a PDC ≥0.80 and 53% had a ≥ 90-day gap; at >500 mg/day, 56% had a PDC ≥0.80 and 19%had a ≥ 90-day gap; and at >0 mg/day (any dose), 76% had a PDC ≥0.80 and only 10%had a≥90-day gap.

CONCLUSION

Few patients with advanced PD sustained a high-dose oral medication regimen in the year following initiation, but most sustained a substantially lower-dose regimen. Strategies to improve advanced PD treatment are needed.

Medication Adherence and Coping with Disease in Patients from a Neurological Clinic: An Observational Study

PURPOSE

Medication non-adherence is a huge concern for the medical community. For chronic, especially neurological diseases, taking medication is a central pillar of treatment. To improve adherence to these oftentimes complex medication regimens, the construct needs to be understood in more depth. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between adherence with sociodemographics, clinical variables, and coping in neurological patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 545 patients from a German neurological clinic. Adherence was assessed with the Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (SAMS). Patients were grouped as completely adherent (SAMS = 0), non-adherent (upper 25% of the sample), and moderately adherent. Associations with coping were assessed using the Essen Coping Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Medication adherence was low compared to other non-neurological patient samples. Differences between adherence groups were found regarding gender and facets of coping, namely "trivialisation, wishful thinking and defence" and "finding of inner stability".

CONCLUSION

Interventions to improve medication adherence should focus on facets of coping with disease, increasing acceptance of disease, willpower, and confidence in treatment.

A randomized controlled efficacy study of the Medido medication dispenser in Parkinson's disease

Background

Complex medication schedules in Parkinson’s disease (PD) result in lower therapy adherence, which contributes to suboptimal therapy and clinical deterioration. Medication reminder systems might improve therapy adherence and subsequently improve symptoms of PD. This randomized controlled study assessed the effect of the electronic medication dispenser Medido on physical disability in PD, as a proxy for changes in therapy adherence.x

Methods

Eighty-seven patients were randomized into the Medido group or control group. The primary outcome of physical disability was measured by the AMC Linear Disability Scale (ALDS). Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QoL) (PDQ-39), health status (EQ5D-5L, VAS), non-motor symptoms (NMS-Quest), and QoL of the caregiver (PDQ-carer). Measurements were performed at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months follow-up.

Results

When using the Medido, a non-significant improvement of 3.0 points (95% CI -5.6;11.6) was seen in ALDS. The exploratory subgroup Hoehn & Yahr classification (H&Y) > 2.5 improved significantly on ALDS with 14.7 points (95% CI -28.5;-0.9, p = 0.029 for group x time interaction). QoL deteriorated with 1.0 point in PDQ-39 (p = 0.01 for group x time interaction) in favor of the control group. Non-significant differences were observed for VAS (0.4 points, p = 0.057) and NMS-Quest (1.3 points, p = 0.095) in favor of the Medido group. No changes over time were observed in EQ5D-5L and PDQ-carer.

Conclusions

Based on these data, no firm conclusion can be drawn, but use of the Medido medication dispenser may result in a clinical improvement of physical disability and seems particularly appropriate for more severe patients.

Trial registration

NTR3917. Registered 19 March 2013.

Adherence to Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Taking Three and More Daily Doses of Medication

Background: Once-daily treatment formulation is associated with better adherence in comparison to more complex medication regimens. The study aimed to detect the extent of adherence to pharmacotherapy in Parkinson disease (PD) patients who take a minimum of three daily doses of drugs, and to identify factors associated with lower levels of adherence.

Methods: The cohort was selected from non-demented PD patients. The 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), 8-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Non-Motor Symptom Assessment Scale (NMSS), 9-Item Wearing-off Questionnaire (WOQ-9), MDS-UPDRS III (motor examination), and IV (motor complications) scales were used in this study.

Results: From a total of 124 subjects, 33.9% reported a high level of adherence, 29.8% reported a medium level of adherence, and 36.3% reported a low level of adherence to their pharmacotherapy. The level of non-adherence correlated with gender, longer disease duration, higher scores of PDQ-8, NMSS, WOQ-9, and MDS-UPDRS IV. Detailed analysis of NMSS demonstrated a correlation between the level of adherence and domains sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, perceptual problems/hallucinations, attention/memory, and urinary symptoms. Independent risk factors for non-adherence were excessive daytime sleepiness, anhedonia, and forgetfulness.

Conclusion: Non-adherence to more complicated medication regimens is frequent in PD patients and is associated with gender, longer PD duration, poorer quality of life, frequency and severity of non-motor symptoms, and more severe motor and non-motor fluctuations. Non-adherence was predicted by non-motor symptoms including fatigue, mood disturbances, and subjective cognitive complaints.

Fibromyalgia-Like Syndrome Associated with Parkinson's Disease-A Cohort Study

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and fibromyalgia (FM) are two relatively common disorders that are considered distinct diagnoses. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of patients with both PD and FM, as well as their comorbidities and medication use. We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study in Israel from 2000 to 2015. We identified patients with PD according to a refined medication tracer algorithm and patients with FM according to their medical records. Using the algorithm, we identified 2606 patients diagnosed with PD, 60 of them (2.3%) were also diagnosed with FM. Most of the patients were females (88.3%) and the mean age of FM diagnosis was 63.95 ± 12.27 years. These patients had a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and dementia. Of the patients diagnosed with PD + FM, 46 (76.7%) were diagnosed with FM after the diagnosis of PD. Patients with PD + FM used analgesics of distinct kinds in higher rates, as well as more anti-PD medications. We suggest that patients with PD + FM represent a distinct subgroup with a fibromyalgia-like syndrome associated with Parkinson’s disease (FLISPAD). Their PD is more treatment resistant, and they take more medications, both analgesics and anti-PD.

The effect of a structured medication review on quality of life in Parkinson's disease: The study protocol

BACKGROUND

Treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) is symptomatic and frequently consists of complicated medication regimes. This negatively influences therapy adherence, resulting in lower benefit of treatment, drug related problems and decreased quality of life (QoL). A potential effective intervention strategy is a structured medication review, executed by community pharmacists. However, little is known about the effects on clinical endpoints like QoL, as well as on feasibility and cost-effectiveness in PD patients.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of a structured medication review on QoL in PD patients. Secondary objectives are measurements of physical disability, activities in daily life, non-motor symptoms, health state, personal carers' QoL and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, a better insight in the process of performing medication reviews will be obtained from the perspective of community pharmacists.

METHODS

In this multicenter randomized controlled trial we aim to enroll 200 PD patients from the outpatient clinic of three Dutch hospitals. Community pharmacists will perform a structured medication review in half of the assigned patients; the other half will receive usual care. Data obtained by use of six validated questionnaires will be collected at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Semi-structured interviews with community pharmacists will be conducted till data saturation has been reached.

DISCUSSION

This trial targets a high-risk patient group for whom optimizing therapy by a structured medication review might be of added value. If effectiveness is proven, this could further promote the implementation of pharmaceutical care in a primary care setting.

Methods for Measuring Multiple Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review-Report of the ISPOR Medication Adherence and Persistence Special Interest Group

BACKGROUND

A broad literature base exists for measuring medication adherence to monotherapeutic regimens, but publications are less extensive for measuring adherence to multiple medications.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and characterize the multiple medication adherence (MMA) methods used in the literature.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Library databases on methods used to measure MMA published between January 1973 and May 2015. A two-step screening process was used; all abstracts were screened by pairs of researchers independently, followed by a full-text review identifying the method for calculating MMA. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to conduct this systematic review. For studies that met the eligibility criteria, general study and adherence-specific characteristics and the number and type of MMA measurement methods were summarized.

RESULTS

The 147 studies that were included originated from 32 countries, in 13 disease states. Of these studies, 26 used proportion of days covered, 23 used medication possession ratio, and 72 used self-reported questionnaires (e.g., the Morisky Scale) to assess MMA. About 50% of the studies included more than one method for measuring MMA, and different variations of medication possession ratio and proportion of days covered were used for measuring MMA.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears to be no standardized method to measure MMA. With an increasing prevalence of polypharmacy, more efforts should be directed toward constructing robust measures suitable to evaluate adherence to complex regimens. Future research to understand the validity and reliability of MMA measures and their effects on objective clinical outcomes is also needed.

Treatment adherence in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Failure to comply with treatment recommendations is very common in patients, but still poorly recognised by doctors. The current practice of using oral therapy on a large scale has been increasingly adopted for cancer patients. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is just such an example, where the introduction of taking new oral medications, the tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL inhibitors (TKI), has now revolutionised the treatment. The aim of our study was to assess treatment adherence in a group of Polish CML patients (a survey was conducted on 140 patient aged ≥18 years) treated with oral TKI (imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib) taking into account the following variables: gender, age, education, place of residence, family circumstances and duration of therapy. In addition, we evaluated whether there is a relationship between how patients perceive their level of adherence to treatment recommendations with how subjectively the required dosage regimen was followed. Half the patients admitted to skipping at least one drug dose during the entire course of treatment and 39% did so within their last treatment month. Patients were also found to overestimate their own adherence assessment; around 60% of those missing at least 1 drug dose within the last treatment month believed they 'always' followed recommendations. The study demonstrated that adherence deteriorates over time. Furthermore, patients aged >65 years and patients suffering at least one comorbid disease had better adherence (p < 0.011). There were no differences in adherence among patients treated with imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib (p = 0.249).

Prevalence and Correlates of Anti-Parkinson Drug Use in a Nationally Representative Sample

BACKGROUND

Although numerous prescription drugs are available to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), little is known about national use in clinical practice and which factors may influence variability in care. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of anti-Parkinson drug use among Medicare beneficiaries with PD and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with drug use.

METHODS

This retrospective study was based on a random sample of annual 5% Medicare Part A and B claims linked with Medicare Part D drug files from 2007 through 2010. The study sample included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with continuous stand-alone Part D enrollment who had been diagnosed with PD in the given year. First, any PD drug use and drug use by class (levodopa, dopamine agonist, anticholinerigc, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors, catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors, and amantadine) were described. Using generalized estimating equation regressions, patient and provider characteristics associated with anti-Parkinson drug use and choice were examined.

RESULTS

Over 81% of patients with PD were treated with anti-Parkinson drugs, and this proportion was stable over the 4 years of the study. The majority were treated with levodopa (90%); followed by dopamine agonists (29-31%); then monoamine oxidase B inhibitors, anticholinergics, amantadine, and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (all between 5% and 11%). Holding all else equal, patients who were not seen by a neurologist (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.44; P < 0.001) and African-American patients (odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.93; P = 0.003) were significantly less likely to be treated.

CONCLUSIONS

Among a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries with PD, the majority received anti-Parkinson drugs. However, there was relative under-treatment of African-Americans and patients who were not seen by a neurologist for care.

Trajectories of recovery in depressed Parkinson's disease patients treated with paroxetine or venlafaxine

INTRODUCTION

Depression is considered a syndrome with a constellation of symptoms that are frequently categorized into 3 domains including affective, somatic and cognitive. There has been limited research into the domain specific magnitude or relative timing of treatment response in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, antidepressant trials involving patients with PD have demonstrated a similar robust placebo response to that seen in other populations. However, the timing of the placebo response has not been carefully studied.

METHODS

We studied differential responses to antidepressant treatment in affective, somatic and cognitive domains of depression. Patients were treated for twelve weeks with placebo, venlafaxine or paroxetine as part of the Study of Antidepressants in Parkinson's Disease (SAD-PD) randomized controlled trial. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with three commonly used rating scales.

RESULTS

All symptom domains improved during the study period, There was a significant placebo effect, especially in the first two weeks that had diminished by week 12. Compared to placebo, the affective symptoms significantly improved during treatment as early as week 4, followed by the somatic symptoms of depression in week 6 and cognitive symptoms in week 8. The largest response was seen in the affective domain.

CONCLUSION

In depressed PD patients treated with venlafaxine or paroxetine, affective symptoms improved first, followed by somatic symptoms and cognitive symptoms. These findings could guide patient counselling and increase patient compliance by informing about the expected treatment responses. The substantial placebo effect underlines the importance of a sufficiently long study period in future studies.

Trends in inpatient antiparkinson drug use in the USA, 2001-2012

Purpose

Although therapeutic options and clinical guidelines for Parkinson’s disease (PD) have changed significantly in the past 15 years, prescribing trends in the USA remain unknown. The purpose of this population-based cohort study was to examine patterns of inpatient antiparkinson drug use between January 2001 and December 2012 in relation to clinical guideline publication, drug introduction/withdrawal, and emerging safety concerns.

Methods

A total of 16,785 inpatients receiving pharmacological treatment for PD were identified in the Cerner Health Facts database. Our primary outcome was standardized (age, sex, race, and census region) annual prevalence of antiparkinson drug use. We also examined antiparkinson medication trends and polypharmacy by age and sex.

Results

The most frequently prescribed antiparkinson drugs between 2001 and 2012 were levodopa (85 %) and dopamine agonists (28 %). Dopamine agonist use began declining in 2007, from 34 to 27 % in 2012. The decline followed publication of the American Academy of Neurology’s practice parameter refuting levodopa toxicity, pergolide withdrawal, and pramipexole label revisions. Despite safety concerns for cognitive impairment and falls, individuals ≥80 years of age demonstrated stable rates of dopamine agonist use from 2001 to 2012. Polypharmacy was most common in younger patients.

Conclusions

Dopamine agonist use declined from 2007 to 2012, suggesting that increased awareness of safety issues and practice guidelines influenced prescribing. These events appear to have minimally influenced treatment provided to older PD patients. Antiparkinson prescribing trends indicate that safety and best practice information may be communicated effectively.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00228-015-1881-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Medication adherence in patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, after Alzheimer's disease, affecting the elderly worldwide. Current therapy for PD is largely based on prescription of drugs that act as either dopamine precursors, dopamine agonists or agents that inhibit key enzymes in the dopamine catabolic pathways. Most of these drugs are administered in tablet or capsule form and can involve multiple daily doses in complex dosing regimens, which contributes to sub-optimal compliance amongst patients. There is evidence to suggest that non-compliance with medications results in perceived poor response to therapy and may ultimately increase direct and indirect health care costs. Medication compliance in PD assumes a particularly important role, given that PD is a progressive, debilitating condition, and once medication is instituted for ameliorating the symptoms of PD, it is lifelong. We included nine research studies in our review of the medical literature, which report the prevalence of significant medication non-compliance in PD, using standard definitions, varies between 10 and 67%. This variation partly reflects differences in defining what clinically significant medication adherence is, the methods used to estimate the scale of the problem and the underlying population heterogeneity. Nevertheless, medication adherence is related to health costs and to the quality of life of patients affected by PD and, indirectly, their carers. Educating patients and their carers is one method of improving patient adherence to therapy. Simplifying drug regimens can also aid in this effort.

Relationships between antiparkinson medication nonadherence, regimen modifications, and healthcare utilization and expenditures

OBJECTIVES

To examine 1) the effect of prior antiparkinson drug (APD) nonadherence on subsequent APD regimen modifications; and 2) the influence of modifications on healthcare utilization and costs by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 7052 PD patients with ≥2 APD prescriptions who initiated a modification of APD regimens in 2007. Modification was assessed as changing from one APD to another and/or adding a new APD to an existing regimen. Nonadherence was measured using Medication Possession Ratio <0.8. Discrete-time survival analyses were used to estimate the effect of prior nonadherent behavior on initiating APD modifications. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the effect of initiating medication modifications on subsequent 3-month medical use and costs.

RESULTS

Initiation of APD modifications in any given month was higher among patients who were nonadherent to APDs in the preceding month (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23), compared to their adherent counterparts. Modifications significantly predicted higher risk of all-cause and PD-related hospitalizations (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 1.22 and 1.83, respectively), home health agency utilization (RR = 1.18 and 1.52), and use of physician services (RR = 1.14 and 1.41), as well as higher total all-cause healthcare expenditures (mean = $1064) in any given 3-month interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Prior nonadherence to APDs might influence initiation of APD modification. APD modifications were associated with increased health care utilization and expenditures, with the caveats that indications of modifications and disease severity may still play roles. Prescribers should consider patients' medication adherence when changing APD regimens to lower the costs of medical services.