Patient’s awareness on COPD is the strongest predictor of persistence and adherence in treatment-naïve patients in real life: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence about the factors that predict persistence/adherence in treatment-naïve patients with COPD in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate persistence and adherence levels among treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with COPD who had a prescribed inhaled medication, using data from real-world clinical practice. METHODS: Multicentric study with a 6 month-followed-up period. Patients were considered persistent if they collected all their inhaler refills. In a random sample of patients, we evaluated adherence using the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI). We assessed Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) with St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: Of the 114 patients included, 46 (40.4%) were defined as persistent. Patients who had awareness about COPD (adjusted RR 2.672, 95% CI 1.125–6.349) were more likely to be persistent; patients with multidose DPI were less likely to be persistent that those with single dose DPI (adjusted RR 0.341, 95% CI 0.133–0.877). Higher levels of SGRQ total were associated with a lower probability of persistence (adjusted RR 0.945, 95%CI 0.894–0.998). Patients who had had an appointment with their GP in the previous six months were more likely to be persistent (adjusted RR 3.107, 95% CI 1.022–9.466). Patients who had awareness about COPD and those with lower symptom SGQR score were more likely to be adherent (24/25, 96.0% vs 16/22, 72.7%, p = 0.025, and mean 29.1, sd 19.4 vs mean 41.4, sd 15.9, respectively, p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Less than 50% of patients were defined as persistent. Patients’ awareness of their disease and levels of HRQL were associated with high rate of persistence and adherence. In addition, frequent visits to general practitioner, increases the rate of persistence to treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01754-6.