Correlation Between Objective Habit Metrics and Objective Medication Adherence: Retrospective Study of 15,818...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Health Services Research
• Behavioral Science and Patient Adherence

Background:

• Medication adherence is a global challenge, with suboptimal patient compliance worldwide.
• Improving medication-taking habits offers a potential strategy to enhance adherence.
• Current habit metrics are often self-reported and have limitations; objective measures are emerging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between objective habit metrics and objective medication adherence using a large dataset.
• To quantify the correlation between daily and weekly medication intake variability and adherence rates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Medication Event Monitoring System Adherence Knowledge Center database containing electronic medication intake data.
• Analyzed data from participants on once-daily regimens over at least 14 days.
• Computed two objective habit metrics: standard deviation of intake hour and weekly cross-correlation of intake timing.
• Quantified medication adherence by proportion of doses taken and proportion of correct days.

Main Results:

• A dataset of 15,818 participants from 108 clinical studies, primarily in hypertension and osteoporosis, was analyzed.
• Lower standard deviation in intake hour (less daily variability) correlated negatively with adherence metrics (ρS=-0.62 for correct days, P<.001).
• Higher weekly cross-correlation (less weekly variability) correlated positively with adherence metrics (ρS=0.55 for correct days, P<.001).
• Habit strength explained over 30% of the variance in medication adherence.

Conclusions:

• Objective habit metrics demonstrate a significant correlation with objective medication adherence.
• These metrics can serve as valuable tools for monitoring patient adherence.
• Objective habit metrics can help identify patients who would benefit from interventions to build medication-taking habits.