Associations between patients' risk attitude and their adherence to statin treatment - a population based questionnaire and register study.

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to medical treatment may have considerable consequences for the patients' health and for healthcare costs to society. The need to understand the determinants for poor adherence has motivated several studies on socio-demographics and comorbidity. Few studies focus on the association between risk attitude and adherence. The aim of the present study was to estimate associations between patients' adherence to statin treatment and different dimensions of risk attitude, and to identify subgroups of patients with poor adherence. METHODS: Population-based questionnaire and register-based study on a sample of 6393 persons of the general. Danish population aged 20-79. Data on risk attitude were based on 4 items uncovering health-related as well as financial dimensions of risk attitude. They were collected through a web-based questionnaire and combined with register data on redeemed statin prescriptions, sociodemographics and comorbidity. Adherence was estimated by proportion of days covered using a cut-off point at 80 %. RESULTS: For the dimension of health-related risk attitude, "Preference for GP visit when having symptoms", risk-neutral and risk-seeking patients had poorer adherence than the risk-averse patients, OR 0.80 (95 %-CI 0.68-0.95) and OR 0.83 (95 %-CI 0.71-0.98), respectively. No significant association was found between adherence and financial risk attitude. Further, patients in the youngest age group and patients with no CVD were less adherent to statin treatment. CONCLUSION: We find some indication that risk attitude is associated with adherence to statin treatment, and that risk-neutral and risk-seeking patients may have poorer adherence than risk-averse patients. This is important for clinicians to consider when discussing optimal treatment decisions with their patients. The identified subgroups with the poorest adherence may deserve special attention from their GP regarding statin treatment.

GPs' Perceptions of Cardiovascular Risk and Views on Patient Compliance: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Objective. General practitioners' (GPs') perception of risk is a cornerstone of preventive care. The aims of this interview study were to explore GPs' professional and personal attitudes and experiences regarding treatment with lipid-lowering drugs and their views on patient compliance. Methods. The material was drawn from semistructured qualitative interviews. We sampled GPs purposively from ten selected practices, ensuring diversity of demographic, professional, and personal characteristics. The GPs were encouraged to describe examples from their own practices and reflect on them and were informed that the focus was their personal attitudes and experiences. Systematic text condensation was applied for analysis in order to uncover the concepts and themes. Results. The analysis revealed the following 3 main themes: (1) use of cardiovascular guidelines and risk assessment tools, (2) strategies for managing patient compliance, and (3) GPs' own risk management. There were substantial differences in the attitudes concerning all three themes. Conclusions. The substantial differences in the GPs' personal and professional risk perceptions may be a key to understanding why GPs do not always follow cardiovascular guidelines. The impact on daily clinical practice, personal consultation style, and patient behaviour with regard to prevention is worth studying further.

Rapidly increasing prescribing of proton pump inhibitors in primary care despite interventions: a nationwide observational study.

BACKGROUND: Guideline and reimbursement modifications have been introduced to optimize prescribing of antisecretory medication in Danish general practice. Impacts of the interventions have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To analyse developments in prescribing of antisecretory medication in Denmark 2001-2011 and to assess the impacts of interventions on prescribing of antisecretory medication. METHODS: Register-based cohort study covering the entire Danish population of currently 5.5 million inhabitants. Developments in the prescribing of antisecretory medication over time in Denmark between 2001 and 2011 and association with age and gender of users along with the impact of interventions on the prescribing of drug subgroups are analysed. RESULTS: 96.8% of all antisecretory drugs sold are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and 94.4% of the PPIs are prescribed in primary care. Prescribing of PPIs has increased substantially during the past decade. Both number of users and the average individual use have increased. The prescribing of ulcerogenic drugs to the elderly has stagnated in the same time range. Reimbursement modifications and scientific guidelines do not seem to have had a substantial influence on the steadily increasing prescribing of PPIs. CONCLUSION: Use of PPIs has increased substantially during the past decade, without a change in indications for use of PPIs in the same time range. Interventions to enhance adherence to guidelines and promote rational use of PPIs do not seem to have had a substantial influence on the overall prescribing rate.

Primary non-adherence in general practice: a Danish register study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe primary non-adherence (PNA) in a Danish general practitioner (GP) setting, i.e. the extent to which patients fail to fill the first prescription for a new drug. We also assessed the length of time between the issuing of a prescription by the GP and the dispensing of the drug by the pharmacist. Lastly, we sought to identify associations between PNA and the characteristics of the patient, the drug and the GP. METHODS: By linking data on issued prescriptions compiled in the Danish General Practice Database with data on redeemed prescriptions contained in the Danish National Prescription Registry, we calculated the rate of PNA among Danish patients from January 2011 through to August 2012. Characteristics associated with PNA were analysed using a mixed effects logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 146,959 unique patients were started on 307,678 new treatments during the study period. The overall rate of PNA was 9.3 %, but it varied according to the major groups of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System, ranging from 16.9 % for "Blood and bloodforming organs" (ATC group B) to 4.7 % for "Cardiovascular system" (ATC group C). Most of the patients redeemed their prescriptions within the first week. Older age, high income and a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were found to be significantly associated with lower rates of PNA, while polypharmacy and a diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease were associated with higher rates of PNA. CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of PNA among Danish residents in a GP setting was 9.3 %. Certain drug classes and patient characteristics were associated with PNA.

Prevalence of the use of antihypertensive medications in Greenland: a study of quality of care amongst patients treated with antihypertensive drugs.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of patients diagnosed with hypertension using the proxy marker of antihypertensive drug therapy in Greenland and to compare the prevalences within the 5 health regions in Greenland. The second objective was to review 2 quality indicators in antihypertensive care. STUDY DESIGN: Observational and cross-sectional study reviewing electronic medical records. METHODS: Information about age and gender was collected from all patients receiving antihypertensive drug prescriptions within a 2-year period prior to the data extraction in January 2011. Only patients aged 20 or above were included. The age- and gender-specific prevalence of patients in antihypertensive treatment was calculated using the population as it was 1 January 2010 in Greenland as background population. A subsample consisting of patients in antihypertensive treatment aged 20 or above born within the first 5 days of each month was identified. Review of electronic medical records 1 year back in time (1 January 2010 onwards) was carried out and information on blood pressure obtained. The quality of care was evaluated with respect to 2 indicators: follow-up management and blood pressure level, respectively. RESULTS: The total number of patients in treatment with antihypertensive drugs was 4,462 (1,998 males and 2,464 females) corresponding to a prevalence of 11.4% (4,462/39,231). The prevalence was higher among females than among males. The prevalence increased with age and differed among the 5 health regions. The percentage of patients in antihypertensive treatment with minimum 1 follow-up visit within 1 year (blood pressure measured and registered in a health clinic) was only 77.7%. Some 45% of patients in antihypertensive treatment achieved blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is a common disorder in Greenland. The quality of antihypertensive care is suboptimal and leaves room for improvement. A national strategy based on guidelines, use of electronic drug prescriptions and recording of blood pressures combined with continuous monitoring the quality is recommended in order to prevent complications of untreated hypertension.

Associations between reporting of cancer alarm symptoms and socioeconomic and demographic determinants: a population-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Reporting of symptoms which may signal cancer is the first step in the diagnostic pathway of cancer diseases. Cancer alarm symptoms are common in the general population. Public awareness and knowledge of cancer symptoms are sparse, however, and many people do not seek medical help when having possible cancer symptoms. As social inequality is associated with cancer knowledge, cancer awareness, and information-seeking, our hypothesis is that social inequality may also exist in the general population with respect to reporting of cancer alarm symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between socioeconomic and demographic determinants and reporting of common cancer alarm symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed based on a stratified sample of the Danish general population. A total of 13 777 randomly selected persons aged 20 years and older participated. Our main outcome measures were weighted prevalence estimates of self-reporting one of the following cancer alarm symptoms during the preceding 12 months: a lump in the breast, coughing for more than 6 weeks, seen blood in urine, or seen blood in stool. Logistic regression models were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the associations between each covariate and reporting of cancer alarm symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 2 098 (15.7%) of the participants reported one or more cancer alarm symptoms within the preceding 12 months.Women, subjects out of the workforce, and subjects with a cancer diagnosis had statistically significantly higher odds of reporting one or more cancer alarm symptoms. Subjects with older age and subjects living with a partner had lower odds of reporting one or more cancer alarm symptoms. When analysing the four alarm symptoms of cancer separately most tendencies persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic and demographic determinants are associated with self-reporting of common cancer alarm symptoms.

On the crest of a wave: Danish prevalence of hospitalisation-required COPD 2002-2009.

OBJECTIVE: Symptoms, mortality, and costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) concentrate among patients who have been hospitalised with the disease. Nevertheless, no solid estimates exist of trends in the prevalence of this condition. This study aimed to investigate age- and sex-specific trends in the prevalence of hospitalisation-required COPD. METHOD: Using national registers, a cohort trend study was conducted covering the entire Danish population (5.4 million citizens) from 1994 to 2009. Subjects were classified as prevalent in the period between first COPD hospitalisation and either death, migration, or the end of an individual 8-year period with no COPD hospitalisations. RESULTS: In 2009 in Denmark the prevalence of hospitalisation-required COPD was: For males 45-59 years 0.36%, 60-74 years 1.37%, 75-84 years 4.13%, 85+ years 4.33%, and for females: 45-59 years: 0.49%, 60-74 years: 1.74%, 75-84 years: 3.96%, 85+ years: 2.99%. During the period from 2002 to 2009 the overall prevalence remained constant. However, among subjects aged above and below 75 years, respectively, substantial decreases and increases were found. An increasing female prevalence exceeded male prevalence, which decreased. CONCLUSION: Some 4% of the Danish population aged above 75 years have been hospitalised with COPD. During the period from 2002 to 2009 the overall prevalence of hospitalisation-required COPD remained constant. However, significant age-specific trends indicate that within a few years, ageing of birth cohorts with low COPD prevalence will lead to a substantial decrease in the prevalence of hospitalisation-required COPD.

Is a targeted intensive intervention effective for improvements in hypertension control? A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important risk factors for stroke, and antihypertensive therapy significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, achieving a regulated BP in hypertensive patients is still a challenge. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an intervention targeting GPs' management of hypertension. METHODS: A cluster randomized trial comprising 124 practices and 2646 patients with hypertension. In the Capital Region of Denmark, the participating GPs were randomized to an intensive or to a moderately intensive intervention group or to a control group and in Region Zealand and Region of Southern Denmark, practices were randomized into a moderately intensive intervention and to a control group. The main outcome measures were change in proportion of patients with high BP and change in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) from the first to the second registration. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with high BP in 2007 was reduced in 2009 by ~9% points. The mean SBP was reduced significantly from 2007 to 2009 by 3.61 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI): -4.26 to -2.96], and the DBP was reduced significantly by 1.99 mmHg (95% CI: -2.37 to -1.61). There was no additional impact in either of the intervention groups. CONCLUSION: There was no impact of the moderate intervention and no additional impact of the intensive intervention on BP.