Pediatric Drug Adherence and Parental Attention: Evidence From Comprehensive Claims Data

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare access and patient behaviors.
• Asthma medication adherence is crucial for managing the condition and preventing exacerbations, particularly in pediatric populations.
• Understanding pandemic-related impacts on adherence is vital for maintaining chronic disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in asthma control medication adherence in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To investigate age-specific differences in adherence changes among children and adults.
• To explore factors, such as parental attention, influencing adherence declines.

Main Methods:

• Utilized comprehensive U.S. drug claims data to track medication adherence.
• Analyzed adherence rates across different age groups (young children, older children, adults).
• Examined heterogeneity in adherence based on pre-pandemic mail order usage and parental script data.

Main Results:

• Overall adherence to asthma control medication declined during the pandemic.
• Young children experienced a substantial 40% decrease in adherence by late 2020.
• Older children showed less negative responses, while adults exhibited positive adherence trends.
• Pre-pandemic mail order usage and number of parental scripts correlated with adherence changes, suggesting a role for parental attention.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted asthma medication adherence, with young children being the most affected.
• Parental factors appear to play a significant role in pediatric adherence during public health crises.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to support pediatric asthma management and adherence.