>Effect of Compliance on Health and Economic Outcomes: Role of Conjugated Estrogen on Depression and Cardiovascular Disorders.

Authors: Heaton A.1; Flinner A.1; Martin S.1; Emmett K.2; Buatti M.2

Source: Value in Health, Volume 1, Number 1, May 1998 , pp. 29-29(1)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Purchase options

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$47.44 plus tax      Refund Policy

OR

 
More like this?
Content Key:
Free Content - Free
New Content - New
Open Access Content - Open Access
Subscribed Content - Subscribed
Free Trial Content - Free Trial

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to identify the effect of compliance with conjugated estrogen on subsequent clinical event rates and their economic impact.

METHODS: Claims from a large Midwest health care plan were screened to identify females receiving a new prescription for conjugated estrogen from 7/1/93 to 6/30/94 and continuing enrollment to 12/31/96. Compliance was calculated by prescription fill quantity divided by enrollment days. Two subgroups (100% compliant versus one prescription only were analyzed. Endpoints were the diagnosis of depression, myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure, physician office visits, and total health care expenditures.

RESULTS: 1112 patients (mean age 57.87) were 100% compliant; mean follow-up, 42.1 months. 900 patients (mean age 57.62) received one prescription only;mean follow-up, 41.8 months. Diagnostic rates between the groups were not different for depression, but less (p >.05) in the compliant group for cardiovascular disorders. Office visit rates were less (p > .0001) in the compliant group for depression and cardiovascular disorders. Total health care expenditures were $220 per patient per month (pppm) for the compliant group and $251 pppm for the non-compliant group (p > .05). Pharmacy expenditures were higher in the compliant group ($74.84 to $53.62 pppm), but medical costs in the non-compliant group exceeded that differential.

CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with conjugated estrogen therapy reduced the diagnostic rate of selected cardiovascular disorders and decreased office visit rates for selected disorders. Total health care expenditure was less in the compliant group. The relatively short time frame to these results is especially attractive to health care plans.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4733.1998.1100275.x

Affiliations: 1: Pharmacy Gold Eagan, MN, USA 2: Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Back to top

Content Key:
Free Content - Free
New Content - New
Open Access Content - Open Access
Subscribed Content - Subscribed
Free Trial Content - Free Trial
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in
Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A