Pharmacoepidemiological profiles of oral hypoglycemic agents among 28,773 Chinese patients with diabetes

Wong MCS et al. - Diabetes patients with lower ability to pay and without comorbidities were significantly associated with Oral Hypoglycemic Agents (OHAs) discontinuation. They should be the target groups for medication counseling programes.

Methods

• A cohort study from January 2004 to June 2007 was conducted and followed up through December 2007.
• The authors included all primary care clinics in one large territories of Hong Kong involving 28,773 Chinese diabetes patients.
• Multivariate regression analyses controlled for age, gender, payment status (fee-payers vs. fee waivers; fee-waivers represented those less able to pay for consultation fees and were regarded as having lower socioeconomic status), service type delivered by the clinics, district of residence, visit type (new vs. follow-up), the number of comorbidities and the drug class (sulphonylureas vs. biguanide vs. combination therapy).

Results

• 9.9% discontinued their medications within 180 days of their prescriptions.
• Fee waivers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for fee payers=0.81, 95% C.I. 0.73–0.89, p<0.001) and the absence of comorbidities (AOR for ≥one morbidity=0.59–0.62, p<0.001) were associated with medication discontinuation.

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