Cost-Related Nonadherence in Asthma Still Prevalent Despite Lowering Rates of Disease

New research published in Thorax suggests that although the number of people with asthma has decreased over the past decade, financial hardship remains a deterrent for one in six patients with asthma. Because uncontrolled asthma is possibly caused by medication nonadherence and because the economic conditions in relation to asthma management have changed over time, researchers aimed to provide a comprehensive investigation of cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) among adults with asthma.

Data from the National Health Interview Survey between 2011 and 2022 were used. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to evaluate trends in the prevalence of CRN. Using these data, the researchers aimed to (1) analyze the trend and prevalence of CRN, (2) investigate factors associated with CRN, and (3) examine associations between CRN and asthma-related adverse outcomes among adults with asthma. A total of 30,793 adults with asthma were included, representing 8.1% (19.38 million) of the US population.

From 2011 to 2022, a declining trend in the prevalence of CRN among US adults with asthma was observed. Approximately every one in six adults (17.8%) with asthma was nonadherent to medications due to cost. Several factors, including demographics and comorbidities, were associated with CRN. Adults with asthma who had CRN were at an increased risk of experiencing asthma attacks (adjusted OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.78-2.13) and emergency department visits because of asthma (adjusted OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.44-1.84). Patients with two or more comorbidities were the most likely to report CRN compared with those with one comorbidity and those with no comorbidities (20.3% vs 16.4% and 14.3%; P<.01).

Source

Thorax