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Impact of Oral Antipsychotic Medication Adherence on Healthcare Resource Utilization Among Schizophrenia Patients with Medicare Coverage

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Abstract

Nonadherence to antipsychotic medications is widespread and compromises the outcome of patients with schizophrenia. Using the MarketScan Medicare claims database, this study examined the impact of medication adherence on healthcare utilization among Medicare insured schizophrenia patients. The study population was separated into two cohorts defined by medication adherence, one with a medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥0.7 (high adherence) and the other with a MPR <0.7(low adherence). Of the 354 patients identified, 126 (36 %) had high adherence (mean ± SD MPR 0.94 ± 0.09) and 228 (64 %) had low adherence (MPR 0.24 ± 0.19). All cause hospitalizations (0.68 vs. 0.44; p = 0.015) and length of stay (LOS) (7.0 vs. 2.6 days; p = 0.005), and relapse hospitalizations (0.22 vs. 0.11; p = 0.028) and LOS (3.2 vs. 0.7 days; p = 0.027) were greater among patients with low adherence. Low adherent Medicare insured patients with schizophrenia require significantly more inpatient care and represent a patient population in which effective interventions are needed to improve disease management.

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Acknowledgments

This research and development of this manuscript was supported by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and H. Lundbeck A/S.

Conflict of interest

Steve Offord and Dario Mirski are employees of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Jay Lin is an employee of Novosys Health, which has received research funds from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. in connection with conducting this study and development of this manuscript. Bruce Wong is a paid consultant for Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. in connection with conducting this study and development of this manuscript. Ross Baker is an employee of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.

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Correspondence to Jay Lin.

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Offord, S., Lin, J., Wong, B. et al. Impact of Oral Antipsychotic Medication Adherence on Healthcare Resource Utilization Among Schizophrenia Patients with Medicare Coverage. Community Ment Health J 49, 625–629 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9638-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9638-y

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