Differences in health outcomes associated with initial adherence to oral antidiabetes medications among veterans with uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes: a 5-year survival analysis

Abstract Aim To determine the association of adherence to oral antidiabetes medication with macrovascular and microvascular complications, time to insulin therapy, revascularization, admissions, and death among veterans with uncomplicated diabetes. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse to examine 159 032 veterans diagnosed with uncomplicated diabetes during 2002–2014 and starting oral antidiabetes therapy for the first time. The first uncomplicated diabetes diagnosis was identified and confirmed by subsequent oral antidiabetes therapy initiation. Adherence was calculated from outpatient pharmacy records using the proportion of days covered over the first year of therapy. Health outcomes were observed up to 5 years beyond the first oral antidiabetes agent fill, and compared according to adherence status using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Results During the first 5 years of oral antidiabetes treatment, people initially non‐adherent to oral antidiabetes therapy were more likely to experience myocardial infarction (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.27) and ischaemic stroke (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.05–0.1.42), or to die (hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI 1.15–1.28). Veterans with <20% adherence to oral antidiabetes therapy in the first year had particularly high hazards for ischaemic stroke (hazard ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.27–2.49) and all‐cause death (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% CI 1.17–151). Adherent people were more likely to be diagnosed with a microvascular complication or chronic kidney disease. Conclusions People who are non‐adherent to treatment were more likely to experience detrimental health outcomes within the first 5 years of antidiabetes therapy. Adherence is paramount to disease management and this should be stressed from the time at which treatment is initiated.