Drug holidays: the most frequent type of noncompliance with calcium plus vitamin D supplementation in persistent patients with osteoporosis

Figures & data

Figure 1 Medication Event Monitoring System-based record of drug use in a particular patient covering a period of 3 months.

Note: Dots indicate container openings, and columns indicate days without container opening.

Figure 2 Patients excluded from the study and reasons for their exclusion.

Notes: The white arrow indicates patients who did not initiate the treatment (noninitiation) and the red arrows indicate patients who were nonpersistent with the treatment (discontinuation within the study period).

Table 1 Characteristics of the study population (N=49)

Age (years)	N=49
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)	70.5; 70.0 (56–86)
How many prescription drugs do you currently take?	N=40
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)	4.7; 5.0 (0–10)
Do you know what your target recommended daily intake of calcium is?	N=48
Yes; Yes together with a statement of the correct answer (%)	47.9; 29.0
No (%)	52.1
How many calcium formulas have you tried?	N=47
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)	2.1; 2.0 (0–6)
Do calcium formulas cause gastrointestinal disorders in you?	N=48
Yes (%)	8.3

Note: N, Number of valid responses to each item.

Figure 3 Omitted doses within single-day omission, 2-day omission, and drug holidays (%); all omitted doses represent 100%.

Note: Drug holidays, a sequence of at least 3 consecutive days without taking the drug.

Table 2 Compliance-related outcomes based on Medication Event Monitoring System (N=49)

Overall compliance (%)	71.0; 84.4 (3–107)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Overall compliance in the first month (%)	74.8; 96.7 (3–117)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Overall compliance in the second month (%)	66.7; 80.0 (3–103)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Overall compliance in the third month (%)	71.6; 86.7 (3–107)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Overall compliance ≥80%, % of patients	59.2
Overall compliance ≥75%, % of patients	59.2
Overall compliance ≥67%, % of patients	69.4
Correct dosing (%)	63.0; 73.0 (3–98)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Presence of drug holidays, % of patients	71.4
Longest drug holidays – number of days	10.7; 8.0 (3–29)
Mean; median (minimum–maximum)
Drug holidays longer than 7 days, % of patients	42.9

Note: Drug holidays, a sequence of at least 3 consecutive days without taking the drug.

Figure 4 Mean overall compliance according to presence of drug holidays at individual weekdays and weekends (%).

Figure 5 Mean overall compliance according to the category of takers at individual weekdays and weekends.

Figure 6 Categories of overall compliance with calcium/vitamin D supplementation in the cohort of 49 participants in the whole study period (3 months).

Abbreviations: MEMS, Medication Event Monitoring System; TC, tablet count.