Fixed-Dose Combinations Improve Medication Compliance: A Meta-Analysis
Sripal Bangalore MD, MHAa, Gayathri Kamalakkannan MD, MPHa, Sanobar Parkar MD, MPHa and Franz H. Messerli MD,
Am J Med. 2007 Aug;120(8):713-719

The Study

The authors found, via MEDLINE search, only 9 studies which met inclusion criteria: fixed-dose combination versus free-drug components of the regimen given separately were compared and compliance was reported. Two studies were in patients with tuberculosis, 4 in the hypertensive population, 1 in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and 2 in the diabetic population. A total of 11,925 patients on fixed-dose combination were compared against 8317 patients on free-drug component regimen.

Results [excerpted from abstract]

Commentary

This is a straight-forward study with results that lends additional support the notion that simplification of medication regimens enhances compliance.

• Evidence Linking Medication Combinations & Adherence
• The Impact of Parents’ Medication Beliefs on Asthma Management
• As Severity Of Illness Increases, Compliance Decreases
• Adherence As An Independent Marker Of Decreased Mortality
• Psychoeducaton For Psychotic Disorders Found To Have No Effect On Medication Adherence