Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Non-adherence to medications contributes to adverse treatment outcomes, higher morbidity, and additional hospitalizations. Pill packaging provides a mechanism for patients with polypharmacy to take all medications at designated times. A meta-analysis in 2014 on the benefit of pill packing revealed adherence to medications increased from 63% to 71%. This study evaluates the impact of pill packing intervention on health outcomes among obese and high-risk patients. An in-depth chart review from 2016 to 2018 was performed for each patient at Ochsner MedVantage (n=40). We compared health markers from six (6) months prior to and following the PP intervention. Repeated measure ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Statin adherence is 100%. The percentage of MV patients with controlled blood pressure (BP≤140/90) increased from 50% before PP to 83% after PP (p < 0.001). Mean values and interquartile ranges of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and body mass index (BMI) all decreased respectively (93 to 81 with p = 0.053, 7.7 to 7.3 with p = 0.109, 33.2 to 32.6 with p = 0.179). The percentage of MVC patients with at least one (1) emergency department (ED) visit in 6 months decreased from 48% before PP to 28% after PP (p <0.005). Pill-packing intervention increased medication adherence and improved health outcomes among obese and high-risk patients. There is a significant increase in BP control reduction in ED utilization.