CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) said the company's comprehensive adherence program for people with diabetes positively impacts medication adherence for both new and continuing patients. A review of data tracking the program found that 75.6 percent of patients continuing on a diabetes therapy who participated in the adherence program maintained optimal adherence to their prescribed therapy vs. 61.2 percent in the control group. The study also found that patients newly prescribed a diabetes medication, who participated in the adherence program, achieved a first fill persistency rate of 80 percent, eight percent higher than the control group.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 24 million people in the U.S. have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and an additional 57 million people are considered pre-diabetic. Diabetes is associated with increased risk for a number of serious, potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Furthermore, research has underscored the importance of adherence to diabetes medication showing that for every $1 spent on medication for the treatment of diabetes, $7 is saved in disease-related costs. While good diabetes control can help reduce the risk of complications and managed health care costs for these patients, a variety of factors can impact medication adherence and prevent people from maintaining optimal control of their disease.
"Our data illustrates that direct, focused interventions to help patients with a chronic disease such as diabetes stay on their medications work," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. "CVS Caremark's comprehensive adherence program is designed to engage all enrolled plan participants in their care by providing disease and therapy education and outreach to help them improve medication adherence, resulting in improved outcomes and reduced overall costs."