The Role of Gender in Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence Among Patients with Diabetes

Objective: Under 50% of type 2 diabetic patients achieve the recommended glycemic control. One barrier to glycemic control is patients' cost-related nonadherence to medications. We hypothesize gender differences in medication nonadherence due to costs among diabetic patients.

Methods: US National Health Interview Survey (2011 to 2014) data yielded 5260 males and 6188 females with diabetes for over a year. We applied 2 analytic methods (A and B below) across multiple outcome measures (1 to 4) of medication nonadherence due to cost. The key independent variable was participant's gender.

Results: Across methods and measure, females consistently report significantly higher rates of medication nonadherence due to costs. Pearson's χ² showed that female patients were more likely to (1) skip medication (13.5%–10.2%; P < .001), take less than prescribed medication (13.9%–10.5%; P < .001), delay filling prescriptions (16.8%–12.5%; P < .001), and ask doctors to prescribe lower-cost alternative medications (31.8%–28.0%; P < .001). Controlling for covariates, logistic regression models found females more likely to skip medication (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09–1.55), take less than prescribed medication (OR, 1.26; 95%, CI, 1.06–1.50), delay filling prescriptions, (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.11–1.50), and request lower-cost medication (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.32). Our results report other factors that influence medication adherence, including socioeconomic and health status variables.

Conclusions: A significant gender-based disparity exists on cost-related nonadherence of medication among diabetic patients. Health care providers and policy-makers should pay close attention to find ways to address cost-related nonadherence of medication among patients with chronic illness, especially among female patients.