SPUR: A Patient-Reported Medication Adherence Model as a Predictor of Admission and Early Readmission in Patients Living with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose Poor medication adherence (MA) is linked to an increased likelihood of hospital admission. Early interventions to address MA may reduce this risk and associated health-care costs. This study aimed to evaluate a holistic Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) of MA, known as SPUR, as a predictor of general admission and early readmission in patients living with Type 2 Diabetes. Patients and Methods An observational study design was used to assess data collected over a 12-month period including 6-month retrospective and 6-month prospective monitoring of the number of admissions and early readmissions (admissions occurring within 30 days of discharge) across the cohort. Patients (n = 200) were recruited from a large South London NHS Trust. Covariates of interest included: age, ethnicity, gender, level of education, income, the number of medicines and medical conditions, and a Covid-19 diagnosis. A Poisson or negative binomial model was employed for count outcomes, with the exponentiated coefficient indicating incident ratios (IR) [95% CI]. For binary outcomes (Coefficient, [95% CI]), a logistic regression model was developed. Results Higher SPUR scores (increased adherence) were significantly associated with a lower number of admissions (IR = 0.98, [0.96, 1.00]). The number of medical conditions (IR = 1.07, [1.01, 1.13]), age ≥80 years (IR = 5.18, [1.01, 26.55]), a positive Covid-19 diagnosis during follow-up (IR = 1.83, [1.11, 3.02]) and GCSE education (IR = 2.11, [1.15,3.87]) were factors associated with a greater risk of admission. When modelled as a binary variable, only the SPUR score (−0.051, [−0.094, −0.007]) was significantly predictive of an early readmission, with patients reporting higher SPUR scores being less likely to experience an early readmission. Conclusion Higher levels of MA, as determined by SPUR, were significantly associated with a lower risk of general admissions and early readmissions among patients living with Type 2 Diabetes.