Relationship Between Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication Regimen and Out-of-Pocket Costs Among People Aged 35 to 64 With Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

Prev Chronic Dis. 2019 Mar 21:16:E32. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180381.

Abstract

We used administrative claims data from 2014 on people with employer-sponsored health insurance to assess the proportion of patients taking antihypertensive medications, rates of nonadherence to these medication regimens, and out-of-pocket costs paid by patients. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between out-of-pocket costs and nonadherence. Results indicated that patients filled the equivalent of 13 monthly prescriptions and paid $76 out of pocket over the calendar year; the likelihood of nonadherence increased as out-of-pocket costs increased (adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.04 to 1.78; P < .001). These findings suggest a need for improvement in adherence among patients with employer-sponsored insurance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / economics*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Assessment of Medication Adherence*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Benefit Plans, Employee / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Expenditures / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / economics
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents