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Persistence and adherence with antihypertensive drug therapy in a German sickness fund population

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 744–746 (2007)Cite this article

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to examine persistence and adherence (compliance) with newly initiated antihypertensive therapy in the real-life setting of a German sickness fund. Persistence was highest after an index prescription for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (52.7%), followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (34.5%), calcium channel blockers (CCBs; 34.4%), diuretics (26.0%) and β -blockers (13.6%).

Poor persistence to and adherence with drug therapy represents the most important cause of uncontrolled blood pressure,4 which is a well-recognized risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and renal failure.1 With effective blood pressure-lowering therapy, the risk of such fatal and non-fatal events can be decreased.2, 3 The analysis of pharmacy claims data has been used to assess patients’ medication-taking behaviour for many years.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ARBs have been studied in greater detail in the United States,8, 10 but have not been investigated across adequate timeframes and in sufficient numbers of patients within Europe and Germany in particular. Therefore, a retrospective cohort study analysing claims data for a large representative statutory German sickness fund (Gesetzliche Krankenkasse) was completed to investigate differences in adherence and persistence with the following classes of antihypertensive drugs: ARBs, ACE inhibitors, CCBs, β-blockers and diuretics.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IGES – Institute for Healthcare and Social Research, Berlin, Germany

    A Höer, H Gothe, G Schiffhorst & B Häussler

  2. Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA

    Z M Khan

  3. Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland

    G Vincze

Authors
  1. A Höer
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  2. H Gothe
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  3. Z M Khan
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  4. G Schiffhorst
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  5. G Vincze
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  6. B Häussler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Höer.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Human Hypertension website (http://www.nature.com/jhh)

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Höer, A., Gothe, H., Khan, Z. et al. Persistence and adherence with antihypertensive drug therapy in a German sickness fund population. J Hum Hypertens 21, 744–746 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002223

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