Objective habit metrics correlate to objective medication adherence: a retrospective study on 15,818 subjects from clinical studies (Preprint)

Abstract

Medication adherence, or how patients take their medication as prescribed, is a global public health issue. Improving medication-taking habit might be an effective way to improve medication adherence. However, habit is difficult to quantify, and conventional habit metrics are self-reported, with recognized limitations. Recently, several objective habit metrics have been proposed, based on objective medication-taking data.

Explore the correlation between objective habit metrics and objective medication adherence on a large dataset.

The MEMS® Adherence Knowledge Center, a database of anonymized electronic medication adherence data from ambulant subjects enrolled in past clinical studies, was used as the data source. Electronic medication adherence data from subjects following a once-daily regimen and monitored for 14 days or more were extracted. Two objective habit metrics were computed from each subject’s medication intake history: standard deviation of the hour of intake and weekly cross-correlation. Objective medication adherence was computed usin15,818 subjects met the criteria. The two objective habit metrics were associated with the two objective adherence metrics (all p < 0.001). A lower daily or weekly variability in the timing of medication intakes is associated with a better medication adherence. However, no variability is not the norm. Among the numerous factors influencing medication adherence, habit strength is an important one.g the proportion of doses taken and the proportion of correct days.

15,818 subjects met the criteria. The two objective habit metrics were associated with the two objective adherence metrics (all p < 0.001). A lower daily or weekly variability in the timing of medication intakes is associated with a better medication adherence. However, no variability is not the norm. Among the numerous factors influencing medication adherence, habit strength is an important one.

Objective habit metrics are correlated to objective medication adherence. Such objective habit metrics can be used to monitor patients and identify those who may benefit from habit-building support.

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