Medication adherence and persistence according to different antihypertensive drug classes: A retrospective cohort study of 255,500 patients

Abstract Background Suboptimal adherence to antihypertensives leads to adverse clinical outcomes. This study aims to determine and compare medication adherence and persistence to different first-line antihypertensive drug classes in a large cohort. Methods A cohort study was performed using claims data for prescriptions in the German statutory health insurance scheme that insures approximately 90% of the population. 255,500 patients with a first prescription of an antihypertensive were included and followed for 24 months. Persistence was determined based on gaps in continuous dispensation. Adherence was analyzed by calculating the medication possession ratio (MPR). Results Within a two-years-period, 79.3% of all incident users of antihypertensive monotherapy met the classification of non-persistence (gap > 0.5 times the number of days supplied with medication) and 56.3% of non-adherence (MPR < 0.8). Beta-blockers (42.5%) and angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors (31.9%) were the most widely prescribed drug classes. Non-persistence and non-adherence were highest for diuretics (85.4%, n = 6149 and 66.3%, n = 4774) and lowest for beta-blockers (77.6%, n = 76,729 and 55.2%, n = 54,559). The first gap of antihypertensive medication occured in median 160–250 days after initiation and the average medication possession ratio for all drug classes was less than 0.8. Fixed combinations with diuretics showed a 19.8% lower chance for non-adherence (OR 0.802, 99.9% CI [0.715–0.900], p < 0.001) and an 8.4% lower hazard for non-persistence (HR 0.916, 99.9% CI [0.863–0.973], p < 0.001) compared with monotherapies. Conclusions This large cohort study reveals important differences in 2-years' adherence and persistence between antihypertensives that were lowest for diuretics. Fixed-dose combinations with diuretics may facilitate adherence compared to single substance products. However, effective strategies to improve adherence to antihypertensives are needed regardless of drug class.