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Race may be a factor in adherence to topical glaucoma therapy
Patient race was the most significant predictor of failure to adhere to topical glaucoma therapy, according to a study. Income, level of education, age and other eye conditions also played a role.
The prospective, open-label, non-randomized cohort analysis examined 116 patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma from two independent tertiary care glaucoma clinics.
Patients were aware their adherence was being measured with the Travatan Dosing Aid (Alcon).
Data were collected 3 months after enrollment in the study on three definitions of adherence: the proportion of days taking the prescribed number of drops within 3 hours of the prescribed dosing time; the proportion of days taking any drops within 3 hours of the prescribed dosing time; and the proportion of days taking any drops within 6 hours of the prescribed dosing time.
Adherence to the definitions was 64%, 75% and 80%, respectively.
“Patients of African descent demonstrated poorer adherence for all three definitions,” the study authors wrote. “This finding is particularly important as persons of African descent are at a much greater risk for developing glaucoma in general.”
More study is needed to determine the causes of the disparities in adherence, they noted.