Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Association of patient copayment and medication adherence in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
In a large, administrative health claims database, we identified that high copayments were associated with reduced adherence to commonly prescribed medications for SLE.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with SLE continuously enrolled for 180 days, 1 July 2010 to 31 December 2019 (age 54.2±15.5 years; 88.2% female)
- Participants
- 12,510 individuals
- Exposure
- High vs low copayment for a 30-day supply
- Outcome
- Adherence (proportion of days covered ≥80%) to HCQ and immunosuppressants
Methodological detailshealth claims database (Optum Clinformatics Data Mart), multivariable-adjusted logistic regression
- Health claims database (Optum Clinformatics Data Mart)
- Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Odds of adherence, by medication
High copayment vs Low copaymentOdds ratio (95% CI)
HCQ
0.61(0.55–0.68)
AZA
0.44(0.30–0.66)
MMF
0.69(0.49–0.96)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Median (IQR) 30-day copayments
- HCQ
- $8 (4-10)
- AZA
- $7 (2-10)
- MTX
- $8 (3-11)
- MMF
- $10 (5-20)
Prescriptions
- Prescribed HCQ
- 9510 (76%)
- Prescribed HCQ plus an immunosuppressant (AZA, MTX or MMF)
- 1880 (15%)
Original publication
Association of patient copayment and medication adherence in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus Sci Med. Published 18 October 2023. doi:10.
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