Asthma Controller Medication Adherence Research Articles

Asthma routinization, family asthma management, caregiver depressive symptoms, and medication adherence in Head Start preschool children.

Medication adherence is suboptimal in childhood asthma. Children rely on caregivers to manage medication administration. It is important to detect families who are at risk for poor adherence or to identify potential areas that can assist families with better adherence to asthma medications in order to improve asthma outcomes. We investigated the association between asthma routines, family asthma management knowledge and skills, and caregiver depressive symptoms with daily controller medication adherence among Head Start preschool children in Baltimore City. Our study included 256 low-income urban preschool children who were prescribed a daily controller medication. Asthma routinization (by the Asthma Routines Questionnaire), family asthma management [by the Family Asthma Management System Scale (FAMSS)], and caregiver depressive symptoms (by the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression) were assessed at baseline. The medication possession ratio (MPR) to measure adherence to daily controller medications was calculated at baseline and 12 months from pharmacy fill records. Multiple regression models evaluated the relationship between asthma routinization, the FAMSS, the CES-D, and MPR. Results indicated that only 7% of families had an MPR above 80% at baseline, and 24% of caregivers had clinically significant depressive symptoms. Higher asthma medication routines were associated with higher MPR at baseline (b = 0.05, p = 0.03). Higher family asthma management was associated with higher MPR at both baseline (b = 0.04, p < 0.01) and 12 months (b = 0.05, p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the importance of family asthma management and maintaining medication routines over time to improve asthma controller medication adherence.

New Caregiver Diagnoses of Severe Depression and Child Asthma Controller Medication Adherence.

Children with asthma who have depressed caregivers are known to be less adherent to medication regimes. However, it is less clear how adherence responds to a caregiver's new diagnosis of severe depression or whether there is a similar relationship with other serious caregiver diagnoses. The hypothesis is that adherence worsens both with new diagnoses of depression and possibly with new diagnoses of other serious conditions. This study follows a cohort of 341,444 continuously insured children with asthma before and after a caregiver's new diagnosis of severe depression or another serious health condition. The effect of a new depression diagnosis on a child's medication adherence is compared to the effect of new diagnoses of other common caregiver chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results show that children's medication adherence declines following a caregiver's new diagnosis of severe depression, but that it also declines following a caregiver's new diagnosis of diabetes. There is no association with new diagnoses of the other caregiver chronic conditions examined. Children whose caregivers have a new diagnosis of depression or diabetes may be at increased risk of deterioration in their medication adherence. These caregivers may benefit from additional support and follow-up. The relationship between caregivers' health and children's medication adherence is complex and deserves further study.

The Relationship Between Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Asthma Management

PurposeChildren with comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and asthma are at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes and reduced quality of life. The objective of these analyses was to examine if self-reported ADHD symptoms in children with asthma are associated with asthma control, asthma controller medication adherence, quick relief medication use, pulmonary function, and acute healthcare utilization. MethodsWe analyzed data from a larger study testing a behavioral intervention for Black and Latinx children with asthma aged 10–17 years and their caregivers. Participants completed the Conners-3AI self-report assessment for ADHD symptoms. Asthma medication usage data were collected for 3 weeks following baseline via electronic devices fitted to participants' asthma medications. Other outcome measures included the Asthma Control Test, self-reported healthcare utilization, and pulmonary function measured by spirometry testing. ResultsThe study sample consisted of 302 pediatric participants with an average age of 12.8 years. Increased ADHD symptoms were directly associated with reduced adherence to controller medications, but no evidence of mediation was observed. Direct effects of ADHD symptoms on quick-relief medication use, health care utilization, asthma control, or pulmonary function were not observed. However, the effect of ADHD symptoms on emergency room visits was mediated by controller medication adherence. DiscussionADHD symptoms were associated with significantly reduced asthma controller medication adherence and indirectly with emergency room visits. There are significant potential clinical implications to these findings, including the need for the development of interventions for pediatric asthma patients with ADHD.

The Impact of Caregiver Depression on Child Asthma Outcomes: Pathways and Mechanisms

Depression is common in caregivers of children with asthma and is associated with poor outcomes in their child. No prior studies have longitudinally examined caregiver depression remission as a predictor of improvement in child asthma control. This 2-site study examined whether the proportion of time a caregiver was in depression remission predicted subsequent child asthma control at exit. Caregivers (n= 205) with current major depressive disorder and their children, ages 7 to 17, with persistent asthma were observed every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. Caregiver depressive symptoms were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Child asthma was assessed with the (Childhood) Asthma Control Test (cACT/ACT) and spirometry, and depression with the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Linear regression analyses were conducted with change in cACT/ACT, CDI, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)% predicted as outcomes and proportion of time the caregiver was in remission (HRSD score ≤ 7) as the predictor. Multilevel mediation analyses examined the role of child depressive symptoms and asthma controller medication adherence. Children were, on average, 54.1% female and 11 years old. Caregiver proportion of time in HRSD-assessed remission of depression was a significant predictor of improvement in cACT/ACT, CDI, and FEV1% predicted. Child CDI score, but not medication adherence, mediated the relationship between caregiver HRSD scores and child asthma control scores. Improvement in caregiver depression positively influences child asthma outcomes partially through improvement in child depressive symptom severity. Caregiver depression screening and treatment might lead to improvement in child asthma outcomes.

“It is kind of like a responsibility thing”: transitional challenges in asthma medication adherence among adolescents and young adults

Objective Nonadherence to asthma medications is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with asthma, leading to worsened control of asthma symptoms and more frequent exacerbations. AYAs have unique developmental transitional challenges that may alter medication adherence. We aimed to use a socio-ecological framework to explore the effect of transitional challenges from adolescence to young adulthood on asthma controller medication adherence and to identify possible strategies to promote medication adherence. Methods We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews by phone with 7 adolescents (14 to 17 years), their respective caregivers, and 7 young adults (18 to 30 years). Participants were recruited from a respiratory clinical trial network and pulmonary clinics in 4 states at 6 different sites through convenience sampling. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analyses. Results Participants identified personal challenges affecting adherence to asthma medications during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood including responsibility for asthma self-management, understanding of asthma condition and severity, embarrassment, and life demands. Health systems factors including medication cost, challenges with insurance, difficulties obtaining refills, and difficulty with access to medications at school also impacted asthma medication adherence. Participants recommended adherence strategies including improved access to inhalers, incorporating asthma medications into daily routines, and using reminders. Conclusions Focusing on the transitional challenges of AYAs during the time period from adolescence to young adulthood is necessary for supporting their asthma medication adherence and creating future interventions. Socio-ecological and systems factors should also be targeted for improved asthma medication adherence. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1897836.

Recognition of Inhaled Corticosteroids or Leukotriene Inhibitors as Controller Medications Among Older Adults and Its Association with Asthma Controller Medication Adherence.

Recognition of Inhaled Corticosteroids or Leukotriene Inhibitors as Controller Medications Among Older Adults and Its Association with Asthma Controller Medication Adherence.

Longitudinal Patterns of Mexican and Puerto Rican Children's Asthma Controller Medication Adherence and Acute Healthcare Use.

Rationale: Researchers tend to study Latinos as a single group, but recent asthma research confirmed differences among Latino subgroups. Variations in controller medication adherence may be a factor in the observed health disparities between Mexican and Puerto Rican children. Adherence is not a stable phenomenon; however, there is a paucity of data on patterns of adherence, sociodemographic predictors of patterns, and variations in asthma-related acute healthcare use by adherence pattern among Latino subgroups. Objectives: To identify patterns of inhaled corticosteroid medication adherence over 12 months among Mexican and Puerto Rican children with persistent asthma, to examine sociodemographic predictors of adherence patterns by ethnicity, and to investigate asthma-related acute healthcare use based on these patterns. Methods: We analyzed controller medication Doser data from Mexican and Puerto Rican children (n = 123; ages 5-12 yr) with persistent asthma who participated with their caregivers in a longitudinal nonintervention study (Phoenix, AZ, and Bronx, NY). Interview and medical record data were collected at enrollment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after enrollment. Results: Forty-seven to fifty-three percent of children had poor adherence (<50%) over each of the follow-up periods (cross-sectional). Children with lowest adherence were Puerto Rican, from nonpoor families, or female. Longitudinal latent class analysis yielded four adherence classes: poor, moderate, decreasing adherence, and increasing adherence. Puerto Rican children had significantly higher odds of "decreasing" (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40 to 20.50) and "poor" (OR, 5.62; 95% CI, 1.44 to 21.90) adherence than Mexican children. Females had significantly greater odds of "decreasing" (OR, 4.80; 95% CI, 0.73 to 31.74) and "poor" (OR, 5.20; 95% CI, 1.77 to 15.30) adherence group membership than males. The "decreasing" adherence group was comprised of only poor children. Children in the "poor" adherence class had the highest mean number of acute visits and emergency department visits/hospitalizations across all assessment periods. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that unique ethnicity within Latino populations may be associated with different risk levels for suboptimal controller medication adherence, which may be a factor in the observed asthma health disparities between Mexican and Puerto Rican children. Increased understanding of and attention to children's controller medication adherence patterns will provide evidence needed to identify children at highest risk for acute healthcare use and offer more-intensive intervention using less-intensive approaches for those at low risk. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01099800).

Association of Asthma Illness Representations and Reported Controller Medication Adherence Among School-Aged Children and Their Parents

This study examined the relationship between asthma illness representations and reported controller medication adherence of school-aged children (6–11 years) with persistent asthma and their parents. Thirty-four parent–child dyads independently reported on asthma controller medication adherence and asthma illness representations. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test parent and child illness representation domain variables as predictors of reported medication adherence. Parent beliefs about medication necessity versus concerns was a significant predictor of parent-reported adherence (β = .55, p < .01), and child treatment control was also a significant predictor of parent-reported adherence (β = −.50, p < .01). Child beliefs about medication necessity versus concerns was a significant predictor of child-reported adherence (β = .50, p < .01), and no parent variables reached significance. Although there are similarities between parent and child asthma illness representations, findings indicate that school-aged children develop illness representations somewhat independently from their parents and, therefore, are critical participants in both asthma care and research.

Associations Among Behavioral Sleep Disturbance, Family Functioning, and Controller Medication Adherence in Children with Asthma.

This study examined the associations among child sleep disturbances, family functioning, and asthma controller medication adherence in school-age children with persistent asthma. Thirty-four children aged 6 to 11 years and a parent independently reported on asthma control and controller medication adherence. Parents also reported on family functioning (behavior control) and child sleep disturbances (bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness). Hierarchical linear regression models tested sleep disturbance variables as predictors of family functioning and medication adherence. A mediation model tested behavior control as a mediator between sleep disturbance and medication adherence. Seventy-nine percent of the children had well-controlled asthma. Despite a mean of 9.48 hours of child sleep per night, 73% of the children had clinically significant disturbed sleep. Controlling for child age, bedtime resistance accounted for 32% of the variance in family behavior control (F(1,31) = 14.75, p < .01). Behavior control also significantly mediated the relationship between total sleep disturbance and medication adherence, with a standardized indirect effect of β = -.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], -.47 to -.03) for parent-reported adherence and β = -.12 (95% CI, -.36 to -.01) for child-reported adherence. Child behavioral sleep disturbances significantly predicted family behavior control. Although child sleep disturbances did not significantly predict asthma controller medication adherence, there was a significant indirect effect of sleep disturbance on medication adherence through compromised family behavior control. Developmentally appropriate behavioral sleep interventions may improve family functioning and child asthma controller medication adherence. Family functioning may also be an entry point for intervention to improve medication adherence.

How can adherence to asthma medication be enhanced? Triangulation of key asthma stakeholders' perspectives

Background and objectives: Adherence to daily asthma controller medication has been shown to be the most effective component of asthma self-management; however, patient's adherence to asthma medication remains poor. This study aimed to understand how patients' long-term asthma controller medication adherence may be improved and facilitated by comparing key asthma stakeholders' perspectives. Method: Six focus group interviews including 38 asthma stakeholders (n = 13 patients, n = 13 pulmonologist physicians, and n = 12 allied healthcare professionals) were conducted. Interviews were qualitatively analysed. Results: Although similar themes were brought up across different asthma stakeholders, the way in which they were framed differed across stakeholders. The most salient discussion revolved around the content and the moment in which asthma education should be approached to facilitate patients' adherence to asthma medication. Conclusion: Asthma medication adherence is a complex process and successful interventions aimed at its improvement would benefit from: (a) making an effort to understand patients' experiences and negotiate the treatment regimen, rather than imposing recommendations; (b) considering treatment as a shared responsibility involving the patient, the healthcare professional(s), and the patients' social networks; and, (c) taking into account different stakeholders' concerns, needs, perspectives, and knowledge.

Pathways linking health literacy, health beliefs, and cognition to medication adherence in older adults with asthma

Limited health literacy is associated with low adherence to asthma controller medications among older adults. We sought to describe the causal pathway linking health literacy to medication adherence by modeling asthma illness and medication beliefs as mediators. We recruited adults aged 60years and older with asthma from hospital and community practices in New York, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. We measured health literacy and medication adherence using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Medication Adherence Rating Scale, respectively. We used validated instruments to assess asthma illness and medication beliefs. We assessed cognition using a cognitive battery. Using structural equation modeling, we modeled illness and medication beliefs as mediators of the relationship between health literacy and adherence while controlling for cognition. Our study included 433 patients with a mean age of 67±6.8years. The sample had 84% women, 31% non-Hispanic blacks, and 39% Hispanics. The 36% of patients with limited health literacy were more likely to have misconceptions about asthma (P<.001) and asthma medications (P<.001). Health literacy had a direct effect (β=0.089; P<.001) as well as an indirect effect on adherence mediated by medications concerns (β=0.033; P=.002). Neither medication necessity (β=0.044; P=.138) nor illness beliefs (β=0.007; P=.143) demonstrated a mediational role between health literacy and adherence. Interventions designed to improve asthma controller medication adherence in older adults may be enhanced by addressing concerns about medications in addition to using communication strategies appropriate for populationswith limited health literacy and cognitive impairments.

Electronic Adherence Monitoring in a High-Utilizing Pediatric Asthma Cohort: A Feasibility Study.

BackgroundInner-city, minority children with asthma have the highest rates of morbidity and death from asthma and the lowest rates of asthma controller medication adherence. Some recent electronic medication monitoring interventions demonstrated dramatic improvements in adherence in lower-risk populations. The feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention in the highest-risk children with asthma has not been studied.ObjectiveOur objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence monitoring intervention among the highest utilizers of acute asthma care in an inner-city practice.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort pilot study targeting children with the highest frequency of asthma-related emergency department and hospital care within a local managed care Medicaid plan. The 3-month intervention included motivational interviewing, electronic monitoring of controller and rescue inhaler use, and outreach by a community health worker for predefined medication alerts. We measured acceptability by using a modified technology acceptability model and changes in asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Given prominent feasibility issues, we describe qualitative patterns of medication use at baseline only.ResultsWe enrolled 14 non-Hispanic black children with a median age of 3.5 years. Participants averaged 7.8 emergency or hospital visits in the year preceding enrollment. We observed three distinct patterns of baseline controller use: 4 patients demonstrated sustained use, 5 patients had periodic use, and 5 patients lapsed within 2 weeks. All participants initiated use of the electronic devices; however, no modem signal was transmitted for 5 or the 14 participants after a mean of 45 days. Of the 9 (64% of total) caregivers who completed the final study visit, all viewed the electronic monitoring device favorably and would recommend it to friends, and 5 (56%) believed that the device helped to improve asthma control. ACT scores improved by a mean of 2.7 points (P=.05) over the 3-month intervention.ConclusionsHigh-utilizer, minority families who completed a community health worker-delivered electronic adherence intervention found it generally acceptable. Prominent feasibility concerns, however, such as recruitment, data transmission failure, and lost devices, should be carefully considered when designing interventions in this setting.

Asthma Controller Medication Adherence, Risk of Exacerbation, and Use of Rescue Agents Among Texas Medicaid Patients with Persistent Asthma.

Adherence to asthma long-term controller medications is one of the key drivers to improve asthma management among patients with persistent asthma. While suboptimal use of controller medications has been found to be associated with more frequent use of oral corticosteroids (OCS), few studies exist regarding the relationship between adherence to controller therapy and the use of short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs). A better understanding of the association between adherence to asthma controller agents and use of reliever medications will help health care providers and decision makers enhance asthma management. To determine if there is a relationship between asthma controller adherence, risk of exacerbation requiring OCS, and use of asthma rescue agents. Texas Medicaid claims data from January 1, 2008, to August 31, 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. Continuously enrolled patients aged 5-63 years with a primary diagnosis of asthma (ICD-9-CM code 493) and with 4 or more prescription claims for any asthma medication in 1 year (persistent asthma) were included. The index date was the date of the first asthma controller prescription, and patients were followed for 1 year. The primary outcome variables were SABA (dichotomous: less than 6 vs. ≥ 6) and OCS (continuous) use. The primary independent variable was adherence (proportion of days covered [PDC]) to asthma long-term controller medications. Covariates included demographics and nonstudy medication utilization. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were employed to address the study objective. The study sample (n = 32,172) was aged 15.0 ± 14.5 years, and adherence to controller therapy was 32.2% ± 19.7%. The mean number of SABA claims was 3.7 ± 3.1, with most patients having 1-5 claims (73.2%), whereas 19.4% had ≥ 6 SABA claims. The mean number of OCS claims was 1.0 ± 1.4. Adherent (PDC ≥ 50%) patients were 96.7% (OR = 1.967; 95% CI = 1.826-2.120) more likely to have ≥ 6 SABA claims when compared with nonadherent (PDC less than 50%) patients (P less than 0.001). As for OCS use, adherent patients had 0.11 fewer claims compared with nonadherent patients (P less than 0.001). Importantly, patients with ≥ 6 SABA claims had 0.7 more OCS claims compared with patients with less than 6 claims for SABA (P less than 0.001). The odds of having ≥ 6 SABA claims were higher for concurrent dual therapy users, older age, males, African Americans and higher number of nonstudy medications (P less than 0.001). Dual therapy users, younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, and higher number of nonstudy medications were associated with an increase in OCS use (P less than 0.005). Adherence to long-term controller medications was suboptimal among patients with asthma. Adherent patients had fewer OCS claims, indicating that adherence to controller therapy is critical in preventing asthma exacerbations requiring OCS use. Although there was a positive relationship between adherence to long-term controller medication and SABA use, increased SABA use served as a predictor of increased OCS use, which indicates poor asthma control. Health care providers should be aware of OCS and SABA use among patients who are both adherent and nonadherent to asthma controller medications.

Prevalence and characteristics of medication sharing behavior in a pediatric Medicaid population with asthma

Prevalence and characteristics of medication sharing behavior in a pediatric Medicaid population with asthma

Exploring the impact of elevated depressive symptoms on the ability of a tailored asthma intervention to improve medication adherence among urban adolescents with asthma.

BackgroundIn patients with asthma, medication adherence is a voluntary behavior that can be affected by numerous factors. Depression is an important co-morbidity in adolescents with asthma that may significantly impact their controller medication adherence and other asthma-related outcomes. The modifying effect of depressive symptoms on an asthma intervention’s ability to improve asthma controller medication adherence among urban adolescents with asthma has not yet been reported.ObjectiveTo assess self-reported symptoms of depression as an effect modifier of the relationship between randomization group and controller medication adherence at 6-month follow-up.MethodsThese analyses use data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Detroit high schools to evaluate a tailored asthma management program. The intervention included referrals to school or community resources for students reporting symptoms of depression and other issues. “Elevated depressive symptoms” was defined as a positive answer to ≥ 5 of 7 questions from a validated tool included on the baseline questionnaire. Self-reported adherence to controller medication was collected at intervention onset (session 1) and at 6-month follow up. Analyses were restricted to students with report of a controller medication at baseline. Logistic regression was used to assess elevated depressive symptoms as an effect modifier of the relationship between randomization group and 6-month adherence.ResultsOf the 422 students enrolled in the RCT, a controller medication was reported at intervention onset by n = 123 adolescents (29%). Analyzing this group, we observed an interaction between elevated depressive symptoms and adherence (p = 0.073). Stratified analysis showed better adherence in treatment group adolescents meeting criteria for elevated depressive symptoms at baseline as compared to the control group (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 9.50; p = 0.024). For adolescents without elevated depressive symptoms at baseline, differences in adherence by group assignment did not reach statistical significance (aOR 1.40, p = 0.49).ConclusionsIn this sample of students reporting controller medications at baseline, report of elevated depressive symptoms at baseline and randomization to the intervention group was associated with significantly better adherence at 6-month follow up when compared to that of a control group. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the impact of depression on the relationship between adherence and asthma intervention effectiveness.

Adequate Levels of Adherence with Controller Medication Is Associated with Increased Use of Rescue Medication in Asthmatic Children

BackgroundThe role of asthma controller medication adherence and the level of asthma control in children is poorly defined.AimsTo assess the association between asthma controller medication adherence and asthma control in children using routinely acquired prescribing data.MethodsA retrospective observational study of children aged 0–18 years prescribed inhaled corticosteroids only (ICS), leukotriene receptors antagonists (LTRA), or long-acting β2 agonists (LABA) and ICS prescribed as separate or combined inhalers, between 01/09/2001 and 31/08/2006, registered with primary care practices contributing to the Practice Team Information database. The medication possession ratio (MPR) was calculated and associations with asthma control explored. Poor asthma control was defined as the issue of prescriptions for ≥1 course of oral corticosteroids (OCS) and/or ≥6 short-acting β2 agonists (SABA) canisters annually.ResultsA total of 3172 children prescribed asthma controller medication were identified. Of these, 15–39% (depending on controller medication) demonstrated adequate MPR. Adequate MPR was associated with male gender, good socio-economic status, and oral LTRA therapy. Adequate MPR was more likely to be associated with increased use of rescue medication. However logistic regression only identified a significant relationship for ICS only (odds ratio [OR], 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–2.48; p<0.001), LTRA (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.27–3.48; p = 0.004) and LABA/ICS (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.62–5.02; p<0.001).ConclusionPoor adherence was observed for all asthma controller medications, although was significantly better for oral LRTA. In this study adequate adherence was not associated with the use of less rescue medication, suggesting that adherence is a complex issue.

Differences in Asthma Controller Medication Adherence by Age and Gender

Adherence to asthma controller medication is thought to improve clinical outcomes; however, literature examining the relationship between age and gender and adherence is limited. This study investigated the relationship between controller medication adherence and age and gender in an administrative claims database.

Ethnicity, Income, and Education as Potential Modifiers of the Effects of Shared Treatment Decision-Making (SDM) Between Asthma Care Manager and Patient on Asthma Controller Medication Adherence: The Better Outcomes of Asthma Treatment (BOAT) Trial

RATIONALE: In a multi-site RCT in 612 adults, aged 18-70, with poorly controlled asthma, adherence was assessed using a cumulative medication acquisition (CMA) index, the total days supply of all controller medications dispensed to the patient divided by 365. Patients randomized to SDM had significantly greater CMA values over follow-up Year 1 (mean CMA = 0.67) than those randomized to usual care (UC; CMA = 0.46) or guidelines-based management (GBM; CMA = 0.59). We explored patient ethnicity (White, Asian, African-American), income (≤$40,000 vs.

Binge Drinking, Poor Mental Health, and Adherence to Treatment Among California Adults with Asthma

Binge drinking and poor mental health may affect adherence to treatment for individuals with asthma. The purposes were to (a) examine the relationship of self-reported binge drinking and mental health to adherence to daily asthma control medications and (b) identify other demographic and health-related factors associated with asthma control medication adherence. Secondary analyses of 2003 adult California Health Interview Survey data were undertaken, and these analyses identified 3.2 million California adults who had been told by a physician they had asthma. Of these, approximately 1.7 million were symptomatic. Binge drinking significantly predicted medication nonadherence among California adults with symptomatic asthma (OR =. 63, 95% CI =. 45-.89), whereas poor mental health did not. Other predictors of nonadherence (odds ratios < 1, p <. 05) included being overweight, younger age, having some college education, being a current smoker, and having no usual source of medical care. Predictors of adherence (odds ratios > 1, p <. 05) were older age, more frequent asthma symptoms, more ER visits, more missed work days, being African American, and being a non-citizen. Intervention efforts could be directed toward improving medication adherence among adult asthma patients who engage in risky health behaviors such as binge drinking. Also at risk for medication nonadherence and therefore good targets for asthma control medication management interventions are adults who are overweight, younger (18–44 age range), have some college education, and no usual source of medical care.

Persistence and Compliance with Omalizumab in a Managed-Care Population

RATIONALE: Poor asthma controller medication adherence causes significant morbidity and mortality, and higher direct medical and indirect costs. We examined omalizumab persistence and compliance compared with other asthma medications (fluticasone/salmeterol combination therapy, leukotriene receptor antagonists [LTRA], inhaled corticosteroids [ICS], and long-acting beta agonists [LABA]).