Adherence to antiepileptic drugs among diverse older Americans on Part D Medicare

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kendra Piper, Emory University; J Richman, University of Alabama Birmingham; Edward Faught Jr, Emory University; R Martin, University of Alabama Birmingham; E Funkhouser, University of Alabama Birmingham; JP Szaflarski, University of Alabama Birmingham; C Dai, University of Alabama Birmingham; L Juarez, University of Alabama Birmingham; M Pisu, University of Alabama Birmingham
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-01-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.10.017
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Epilepsy and Behavior
• ISSN: 1525-5050
• Volume: 66
• Start Page: 68
• End Page: 73
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (1R01NS080898-01).
• Keywords: RANSOM; Epilepsy; NONADHERENCE; Behavioral Sciences; ADULTS; Part D coverage; Adherence; Medicare; Science & Technology; NEW-ONSET EPILEPSY; Older adults; Neurosciences & Neurology; Clinical Neurology; CLAIMS; DISPARITIES; OUTCOMES; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Psychiatry; RISK; CODES; PREVALENCE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Pharmacology; Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

Introduction Older minority groups are more likely to have poor AED adherence. We describe adherence to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) among older Americans with epilepsy. Methods In retrospective analyses of 2008–2010 Medicare claims for a 5% random sample of beneficiaries augmented by minority representation, epilepsy cases in 2009 were those with ≥ 1 claim with ICD-9345.x or ≥ 2 with 780.3x, and ≥ 1 AED. New-onset cases had no such claims or AEDs in the year before the 2009 index event. We calculated the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) (days with ≥ 1 AED over total follow-up days) and used logistic regression to estimate associations of non-adherence (PDC <  0.8) with minority group adjusting for covariates. Results Of 36,912 epilepsy cases (19.2% White, 62.5% African American (AA), 11.3% Hispanic, 5.0% Asian and 2% American Indian/Alaskan Native), 31.8% were non-adherent (range: 24.1% Whites to 34.3% AAs). Of 3706 new-onset cases, 37% were non-adherent (range: 28.7% Whites to 40.5% AAs). In adjusted analyses, associations with minority group were significant among prevalent cases, and for AA and Asians vs. Whites among new cases. Among other findings, beneficiaries from high-poverty ZIP codes were more likely to be non-adherent than their counterparts, and those in cost-sharing drug benefit phases were less likely to be non-adherent than those in deductible phases. Conclusion About a third of older adults with epilepsy have poor AED adherence; minorities are more likely than Whites. Investigations of reasons for non-adherence, and interventions to promote adherence, are needed with particular attention to the effect of cost-sharing and poverty.