Prospective observational study of the impact of problems accessing treatment such as risk factors for adherence and persistence. Pilot study

Introduction: Some preliminary studies that reveal the onset of risk factors not investigated previously in regard to the health system were performed. They can reduce adherence and/or persistence of pharmacological treatments. Knowledge about them can lead to possible solutions.

Aim: To estimate the incidence of risk factors in regard to the health system that can reduce adherence/persistence with treatments associated with problems accessing these in the community pharmacy.

Method: Transversal, randomized, prospective study in community pharmacies in Asturias and Aragón regions. The primary endpoint was the incidence of new risk factors that means that the prescription is inadequate for its dispensing. Different subgroups were analyzed according to type of risk factor, population and prescription.

Results: The typical patient is a vulnerable person according to his age (65.4 years), multipathology and polypharmacy (6.8 drugs). After the evaluation of 138,697 cases of dispensing in 98 community pharmacies a total of 2009 patients were detected with 2221 cases of dispensing with risk factors in terms of adherence and/or persistence (1.6% of the total dispensing). The type of incidence most commonly observed was expiry of the prescription (54.7%; 95%CI=52.6-56.8), followed by no prescription record (18.7%; 95%CI: 17.1-20.3). For its part supply problems stood at 10.2% (95%CI= 10.6%-10.9%). The most compromised therapeutic groups were groups N Nervous System (27.6%), C Cardiovascular System (20.3%) and A Gastrointestinal System (15.3%).

Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that the current incidence of risk factors in regard to the health system in terms of adherence and/or persistence may comprise a health problem with a clinical, quality of life and financial impact. As these risk factors are modifiable, a greater capacity for community pharmaceutical action by means of exceptional dispensing to authorize the treatment’s continuity would be an acceptable solution.