Adherence to Ulcerative Colitis Medications Not Affected by Drug Formulation or Dosing Regimen

LAS VEGAS -- Poor adherence to medication is a recognized medical problem, costing an estimated $100 billion a year in the United States.ⁱ New data show that while there is a steady decline in adherence to medications for ulcerative colitis (UC), drug formulation and the number of pills taken each day do not affect long-term adherence. The data were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology by University of Chicago researcher Sunanda Kane, MD

"This new study not only reaffirms that adherence to medication is a critical issue in the treatment of UC, but also demonstrates for the first time that long-term adherence is independent of drug formulation and dosing regimen," said co-author Kane, associate professor of medicine, section of gastroenterology and nutrition at the University of Chicago. "This study demonstrates that taking a range of four to 16 pills a day does not affect adherence to UC treatment. However, additional studies are needed to further understand the multiple factors that prevent patients from adhering to treatment regimens long term."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), poor adherence to treatment of chronic disease is a "worldwide problem of striking magnitude." The WHO estimates that in developed nations, half of patients do not take medicines for chronic diseases in the prescribed manner.ⁱⁱ

Adherence to medication among UC patients has not been examined in a large-scale study until this analysis. The retrospective study analyzed records of 1,680 UC patients from health plans across the country. These patients initiated therapy with 5-aminosalycylic acid (5-ASA) medications. Physicians use 5-ASA medications both acutely and as maintenance therapy to avoid UC flare-ups, during which the rectum and/or colon become inflamed.

Patients of any age and sex with diagnosed UC were included in the study, but those with 5-ASA therapy in the previous six months were excluded. Patients' medication refill rates were measured in three-month intervals over a 12-month period. The majority of patients (62 percent) were initiated on treatment with Asacol (delayed-release mesalamine, median dose 2.4 grams/day). The remaining patients were on the following 5-ASA treatments and median daily doses: sulfasalazine 2.0 grams (17.5 percent), Colazal (Salix Pharmaceuticals) (balsalazide disodium) 6.75 grams (12.6 percent) and Pentasa (Shire) (controlled- release mesalamine) 4.0 grams (7.6 percent).

The purpose of the study was to observe in a real-world setting patients' adherence to their treatment by examining refill rates of the four 5-ASA therapies, all of which had different median daily dosing regimens: delayed-release mesalamine (6 pills), sulfasalazine (4 pills), balsalazide (9 pills) and controlled-release mesalamine (16 pills).

The study found that there was a steady decline in medication refill rates, particularly during the first three months of therapy. After three months, medication refills continued to decline at about 1 percent each month with similar medication refill rates for the four 5-ASA therapies.

References
(i) O'Conner, P, Improving Medication Adherence, Archives of Internal Medicine 2006, 166: 1802-1804.
(ii) Adherence to Long-Term Therapies: Evidence for Action, World Health Organization Report, 2003.

Source: Procter & Gamble

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