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Abstract #92115 Published in IGR 22-1
Cost-related nonadherence with glaucoma medications in Ontario
Buys YM; Kagan D; Jin YP; Trope GECanadian Journal of Ophthalmology 2021; 0:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of glaucoma patients in Ontario aged 25-64 who lack insurance coverage for glaucoma medications and to assess the frequency of cost-related nonadherence to glaucoma medications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Glaucoma patients on medication from 2 glaucoma clinics in Toronto, Ontario. METHODS: 100 consecutive glaucoma patients aged 25-64 (not entitled to provincial drug benefit) and 100 consecutive glaucoma patients aged 65+ (entitled to provincial drug benefit), all on topical glaucoma therapy, completed a standardized questionnaire. Questions included insurance coverage for glaucoma medications, cost concerns when paying for glaucoma medications, cost-related nonadherence, and sociodemographics. RESULTS: 25.8% of those aged 25-64 express concerns about the cost of their glaucoma medications compared to 7.1% of those aged 65+ (p < 0.001). Patients aged 25-64 were also significantly more likely to report at least one form of cost-related nonadherence (15.5% vs 2.0%, p = 0.001) and significantly more likely to report missing eye drops in a given week than patients aged 65+ (32.0% vs 16.7%, p = 0.01). 17% (95% confidence interval 11%-26%) of patients aged 25-64 self-reported having no insurance coverage for their glaucoma medications. Of those with coverage, the most common source of insurance was employer-sponsored (68.6%) with 44% requiring a copayment. The average copayment was $18 (range $2-$250) for those aged 25-64 compared with $5 in the 65+ group (range $0.62-$100). CONCLUSIONS: 17% of glaucoma patients aged 25-64 do not have coverage for their drops. One in four expressed concerns about the cost of their glaucoma medications, and 15.5% reported cost-related nonadherence.
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. Electronic address: y.buys@utoronto.ca.
Full articleClassification:
11.17 Cooperation with medical therapy e.g. persistency, compliance, adherence (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)