Research: Magnitude, prevalence, impact and cost of medication non-adherence

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An article published in the September, 2011 issue of the American Heart Journal provides the outcome of a recent think tank meeting at the Duke Clinical Research Institute that reviewed the magnitude, prevalence, impact and cost of medication non-adherence. MeadWestvaco Corp. Adherence experts including representatives from consumer groups, community health providers, academia, government officials and industry participated in a two-day meeting to evaluate the current status of the problem and provide recommendations for policy change to improve medication adherence and its impact on public health and medical costs. Poor medication adherence is a growing national concern. Research shows that half of all patients in the U.S. do not take their medicines as prescribed, despite evidence that medical therapy prevents death and improves quality of life. Approximately 125,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are due to medication non-adherence with total cost estimates ranging from $100 — 300 billion per year. A recent World Health Organization report states that, because the magnitude of medication non-adherence and the scope of these sequelae are so alarming, more health benefits worldwide would result from improving adherence to existing treatments, than from developing new medical treatments.

Ref and Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mwv-experts-meet-to-evaluate-the-state-of-medication-adherence-and-provide-real-world-solutions-2011-09-21

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