Abstract
Introduction: Adherence is often measured using proportion of days covered (PDC), where the single average PDC that is estimated conceals the heterogeneity of the adherence patterns, each of which may require unique solutions. Novel group-based trajectory methods allow one to distinguish subgroups of adherence patterns. We examined the magnitude of variation in PDC estimates in these subgroups. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years who had filled ticagrelor within 7 days post-ACS discharge in Ontario, Canada between 4/2014-3/2018. Longitudinal patterns of adherence were measured using group-based trajectory models over 1 year and compared with traditional adherence metrics using PDC for the entire cohort and for each trajectory group. Results: We identified 9,764 ticagrelor users (mean age 73.6; 65.4% men). Three distinct trajectory patterns of ticagrelor adherence were identified: a consistently adherent, a gradually nonadherent, and a rapidly nonadherent group, comprising 67.8%, 17.1% and 15.1% of the cohort, respectively. The 1-year mean PDC (±SD) was 80.8±29.2 for the whole ticagrelor post-ACS cohort. After differentiating by adherence trajectory group, mean PDC (±SD) was 97.4±4.5 % in the consistently adherent, while it was 69.1±15.6% and 20.2±11.6 over 1 year in the gradually and rapidly non-adherent trajectory groups, respectively. Conclusions: The overall ticagrelor adherence of ~80% 1-year post-ACS instills a false sense of comfort. The 3 distinct trajectory groups revealed divergent patterns not reflected by this overall mean estimate. The two-thirds of patients who were consistently adherent maintained nearly perfect ticagrelor adherence, while the rapidly non-adherent group only took ticagrelor on average for 2.5 months of the year. The trajectory method approach allows us to distinguish adherence subgroups, and better identify patients at risk of nonadherence who need targeted interventions.
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