Finasteride Adherence-Associated Factors in Chinese Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Medication noncompliance is a recognized problem worldwide. This study evaluated the factors associated with compliance, discontinuation and switching of finasteride among Chinese benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 682 outpatients newly diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prescribed with finasteride from January 2008 to December 2009, taken from a database. We evaluated their compliance by medication possession ratios, discontinuation and switching rate after the prescription for an average observation period of 15 months. Multiple association factors were identified and evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The crude compliance level, discontinuation and switching rates were 29.3, 60.6 and 10.1%, respectively. Older age (≧60 years), combination therapy, medical insurance and chronic comorbidities were positively associated with good compliance. Younger age was significantly associated with drug discontinuation or switching. Those patients on finasteride monotherapy and without medical insurance were significantly associated with discontinuation of drugs. Conclusions: Patients <60 years of age, on monotherapy and without medical insurance were less likely to be compliant with their newly initiated finasteride treatment. Consequently, more efforts should be made among this group to increase treatment adherence.

Enablers and barriers affecting medication-taking behaviour in aging men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…With the aid of carers, patients miss their medications less frequently, receive better social or family support and are better informed about their medications [25][26][27][28]. Thus, the findings of our study support better adherence seen in older BPH patients described in previous studies [17,18].…”

“…This study found that patients younger than 65 years of age were more likely to have issues regarding their current medications than those who were older than 65. This information helps explain the reasons for poor adherence in younger patients with BPH as described in previous studies [17,18]. Older adults, female gender, and consumers' belief that therapy will help are additional predictors of adherence [20].…”

Fixed-dose combination therapy with dutasteride and tamsulosin in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…Combination therapies seem to result in better compliance compared with monotherapies [Lin et al 2012;Nichol et al 2009]. Less-frequent dosage enhances adherence and technical adherence interventions are usually directed at simplifying the medication regimen [Van Dulmen et al 2007].…”

“…2009]. Combination therapies seem to result in better compliance compared with monotherapies [Lin et al . 2012; Nichol et al .…”

Solifenacin/tamsulosin fixed-dose combination therapy to treat lower urinary tract symptoms in&nbsp;patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

“… 51 It has been found that combination therapies result in better compliance compared to monotherapies. 51 , 52 In addition, it has been shown that less frequent dosage enhances adherence, and technical adherence interventions are usually directed at simplifying the medication regimen. 53 Therefore, a potential advantage of the FDC of solifenacin/tamsulosin may be the improvement of patients’ adherence.…”