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Table 2 Changes to oral medication regimens

From: Improved treatment satisfaction and medication adherence after readjusting oral medication regimens with the cooperation of health insurance pharmacy in type 2 diabetic patients in Japan

 

Baseline

After changes

P value

Number (i.e., type) of oral drugs (per day)

 OADs

2.2 ± 1.0

2.2 ± 0.8

0.537

 Other drugs

1.5 ± 1.1

1.5 ± 1.1

1.000

Type of OADs used

 Sulphonylurea

8 (28%)

6 (21%)

0.500

 Alfa-glucosidase inhibitor

11 (38%)

6 (21%)

0.063

 Glinide

3 (10%)

2 (7%)

1.000

 Biguanide

23 (79%)

25 (86%)

0.500

 Thiazolidinedione

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

1.000

 Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor

19 (66%)

22 (76%)

0.250

 Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

1.000

Frequency of taking medications (times/day)

3.4 ± 1.2

1.8 ± 0.5

< 0.001

Taking medicationsa

 In time with all three meals

20 (69%)

2 (7%)

< 0.001

 In time with two meals

9 (31%)

17 (59%)

 

 In time with one meal

0 (0%)

10 (34%)

 

Taking medications

 Both before and after meals

14 (48%)

0 (0%)

< 0.001

 Only after meals

14 (48%)

21 (72%)

0.016

 Only before meals

1 (3%)

8 (28%)

0.039

Change in dose of OADsb

 None increased or decreased

7 (24%)

 None increased and one or more decreased

12 (41%)

 One increased and more decreased

1 (3%)

 One increased and one decreased

9 (31%)

 Others

0 (0%)

 

Use of anti-diabetic combination drug

1 (3%)

8 (28%)

0.016

Total number of pills (per day)

5.7 ± 2.0

4.5 ± 1.7

< 0.001

Pattern of administration schedulec

2.2 ± 0.7

1.7 ± 0.6

< 0.001

Pharmacy cost for a 28-day supply (yen)

11,689 ± 5613

10,885 ± 4511

0.0498

 Drug cost (yen)

8247 ± 5128

7917 ± 4284

0.348

 Dispensing fee (yen)

3442 ± 805

2968 ± 694

0.001

  1. Data are shown as means ± SD for continuous variables and n (%) for discrete variables
  2. aThe number of meal times was tested using Wilcoxon’s signed rank test
  3. bIncreases in dose include initiation of a new OAD whereas decreases in dose include discontinuation of an OAD
  4. cIf a person took some medications before three meals and other medications after breakfast, this was counted as two patterns of administration schedules