Business Wire - July 13, 1999
This disparity was discovered in a study recently conducted by researchers at PCS Health Systems, one of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers and a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD)(PSE: RAD).
PCS' retrospective study also showed that treatment approaches seem to be improving over time as more doctors become aware of best-practice guidelines. The study indicated that doctors are prescribing the recommended triple drug therapy for new HIV/AIDS patients more often.
"Accurate measurement and tracking of patient compliance and treatment regimens are critical in light of studies showing that patients taking HIV protease inhibitors who do not comply with their prescribed regimen run the risk of developing drug resistance and reactivating the virus," said PCS' Steve Hutchison, Ph.D., lead researcher on the project.
PCS researchers used encrypted, non-identifiable patient data from the company's extensive pharmacy claims database to analyze treatment regimens and determine factors such as estimated length of therapy, patient compliance, switching patterns and concomitant therapy.
Hutchison explained that electronic claims databases allow researchers to measure real-life drug utilization patterns in a natural, real-world setting with less distortion than other methods.
PCS studied two patient groups: one initiating therapy after triple drug therapy was made available but before it was advocated as the treatment of choice, and one initiating therapy after triple drug therapy was advocated by the International AIDS Society. The findings are being considered for publication in The Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
The PCS study showed that the incidence of triple drug therapy as an initial treatment regimen for HIV/AIDS patients increased from 37 percent in 1996 to 62 percent in 1997, while the incidence of monotherapy and dual drug therapy during the same period declined to 12 percent and 26 percent, respectively.
The study also found that treatment regimens changed frequently once therapy began, and that many patients did not comply with their prescribed therapies.
"Information of this nature has become increasingly important to the health care system," said Hutchison. "That's because when patients suffering from a chronic disease do not adhere to their treatment regimen, it often results in more complications.
"That, in turn, can result in more frequent visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more lab tests -- ultimately leading to higher overall costs.
"With the rising cost of health care, health plans and providers need accurate information about all aspects of health care delivery," he continued. "Retrospective studies such as this can provide them with important information to ultimately help improve both cost efficiencies and outcomes."
PCS Health Systems, Inc. (http://www.pcshs.com) manages and monitors 300 million individual prescriptions each year representing $10 billion in drug expenditures.
Using superior information resources, advanced technology and clinical expertise, PCS provides managed pharmaceutical-related programs and services that directly and positively improve the health of patients, and help reduce health care costs.
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CONTACT: PCS Health Systems, Scottsdale Blair Jackson, 480/391-4138
990713
BW990709
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