To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Nonadherence to Antiepileptic Drugs Associated With Increased Mortality
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/223D4E.htm
Doctor's Guide
June 19, 2008

NEW YORK -- June 18, 2008 -- Patients with epilepsy who fail to regularly take their antiepileptic medication could be 3 times more likely to die compared with patients who adhere to their medication regimen, according to a study published today in the online issue of Neurology.

Researchers employed a retrospective, open-cohort design using insurance claim records from 3 US state Medicaid programs from January 1997 through June 2006. The study included 33,658 people diagnosed with epilepsy who filled at least 2 epilepsy drug prescriptions.

The study found that patients who took their antiepileptic medication less than 80% of the time over the course of 3 months had more than a threefold increased risk of mortality compared with patients who were adherent within the same period of time (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.11-3.54).

In addition, the study showed that time periods of nonadherence were associated with an increase in hospital admission, up by 86%, and emergency room visits increased by 50%, compared with periods of adherence. There also appeared to be a significantly higher incidence of motor vehicle accident injuries and fractures. Only head injuries were less common during periods of nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs.

"These results are concerning, since some studies show about 30% to 50% of people with epilepsy do not take their medication regularly," said study author Edward Faught, MD, University of Alabama Epilepsy Center, Birmingham, Alabama.

"There are many reasons epileptic patients fail to take their seizure medications, including cost, side effects, and pregnancy. But this study suggests that none of those reasons overshadow the threat of death or other problems related to uncontrolled seizures. Patients need to stay on their medications, and physicians need to recognize and treat issues related to people failing to take epilepsy drugs," said Dr. Faught.


SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet*
located at http://www.docguide.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Return to News Story Page

This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com
Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs.
All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc.
All rights reserved.