Clinician’s perspective regarding medication adherence in patients with obstructive lung diseases and the impact of COVID-19

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Failure to achieve high levels of medication adherence in obstructive lung diseases is a major cause of uncontrolled disease.The purpose of this study is to reveal clinicians' opinions on the level of patient adherence and the change in adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: A questionnaire containing multiple-choice questions about treatment adherence in patients with obstructive lung diseases was voluntarily applied to doctors working in a tertiary hospital for chest diseases.RESULTS: Eighty-one doctors (mean age, 37.2 years [standard deviation, 9.7 years]; 57 (70.4%) women) answered the questionnaires.Almost all clinicians participating in the study reported that they always or frequently asked patients if they adhered to treatment.Most clinicians think that in 20-50% of patients with asthma and less than 20% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a decrease in medication adherence appears in the first year of treatment. Most clinicians think the main reason for patients with obstructive lung diseases not adhering is patients' reluctance to be treated regularly. Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients' drug adherence, 43.2% of clinicians observed that adherence increased after the start of the pandemic.CONCLUSION: Adherence to medication is not at the desired levels in patients with obstructive lung diseases. However, when faced with a serious health threat, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, patients realize the severity of their illness and begin using their treatments more regularly.

Economic impact of implementing prescription of single-inhaler triple therapies versus current multiple-inhaler triple therapies for COPD in the Apulia Region

“…This limit is in line with the fact that our analysis was discontinued in conjunction with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, also in consideration of the possible changes on the market resulting from the consequent health-care crisis. Anyhow, the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to increase the therapy adherence and consequently the use of inhalers in patients with chronic respiratory diseases [ 27 , 28 ]. On this basis, we could hypothesize that the proposed strategy of replacing the open MITTs with pre-established SITTs can cause also growing economic advantages over time.…”

Medication Adherence in Medicare-Enrolled Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Conflicting data exist on medication adherence among patients with COPD. Several studies found increased medication adherence in older patients with asthma and/or COPD after the beginning of the pandemic [ 16 , 17 ]. However, Barrett et al reported decreased prescription claims in COPD and asthma patients compared to the pre-pandemic time [ 18 ].…”