Background Adherence to the treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an important aspect of chronic disease management to improve the efficacy of treatment.¹

Purpose The study aimed to evaluate adherence to long-term drug treatments for PAH.

Material and methods From 01/01/2010 to 04/01/2014 a retrospective analysis was done on therapeutic plans and prescriptions related to patients in treatment for at least one year by the Pneumology Unit. Items dispensed by the Clinical Pharmacist were analysed through data entered into the database F file. Mean therapeutic adherence, according to the literature,² was calculated using the "pharmacy-refill" method: days of dispensed treatment/(days between the first and the last prescription dispensed + 90 days)*100.

Results In the study period, 80 patients were treated with drugs for PAH. Of them, 34% (27/80) were on treatment with sildenafil, 20% (16/80) with bosentan, 10% (8/80) with ambrisentan. The remaining 36% (29/80) were treated with a combination of drugs. Twenty-nine patients received at least one year of treatment: 41% (12/29) male and 59% (17/29) female. 16.7% (2/12) of males aged >60 years had adherence of 88%; 41.6% (5/12) aged between 40 and 60 years were 91% adherent; 25% (3/12) aged between 30 and 40 years were 92% adherent and 16.7% (2/12) aged <30 years were 98% adherent. With regard to the females treated, 35% (6/17) of them aged >60 years showed 96% adherence; 47% (8/17) aged between 40 and 60 were 96% adherent; 11.7% (2/17) aged between 30 and 40 years were 100% adherent and 6% (1/17) aged <30 years were 100% adherent. All female patients showed adherence of >95%, while male patients in all categories had an adherence >80%.

Conclusion Analysis showed that patients more adherent to therapy were those who were younger and of female gender. Data were shared with physicians, and it was decided to carry out more specific training sessions targeted at patients aged >60 years in order to ensure greater adherence to treatment.

References and/or acknowledgements

1. KS Ingersoll, J Cohen. The impact of medication regimen factors of adherence to chronic treatment: a review of literature. J Behav Med 2008;31:213–24

2. Acri T, TenHave TR, Chapman JC, et al. Lack of association between retrospectively collected pharmacy refill data and electronic drug monitoring of antiretroviral adherence. AIDS Behav 2010;14(4):748–54

References and/or acknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.