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Hypertensive Patients Forced to Choose Medications Over Groceries in Face of High Co-Pays, According to Study by GfK Market Measures

Research reveals that to afford their medications, patients with high blood pressure are not only cutting out luxuries from their budgets but also necessities

EAST HANOVER, NJ, Sept. 30, 2008 — Hypertensive patients are feeling the impact of rising co-pays for prescription medications and many are compensating for the increased costs by surrendering not only luxury items such as vacations but also necessities such as groceries, according to new research by GfK Market Measures.

When asked what actions they were taking due to the cost of prescription co-pays, it is not surprising to find that luxury items – sacrificed by almost two-thirds of hypertension sufferers participating in the research study – are the first to go.  However, more than one-third of patients have dug even deeper and made the choice to also forego everyday necessities, such as groceries, in order to afford their prescription co-pays.  In addition, one-quarter of hypertensive patients indicated they have "given up, stopped using or stopped doing something” they typically do in order to pay for medications and almost one-fifth responded they have forfeited conveniences such as cable TV, Internet access or cell phones.

The trade-offs are particularly evident among patients who are on brand medications, compared with those taking generic antihypertensive drugs.    Those on generics are less likely to have made the budgeting trade-offs, and the majority of this group believes the cost of their hypertensive drug is reasonable considering the benefits they obtain. 

Further, when comparing the specific results for patients who do not deem their co-pay to be a "burden” against results for those who consider their co-pay to be an "extreme burden,” the figures more than double across each of the categories, indicating the severity of the sacrifices made by some patients in juggling the rising expense of medications against the costs of daily life.

"While it comes as no surprise that luxury items and even ‘conveniences’ are being forfeited, it was surprising to learn that a full one-third of patients would eat less or differently to afford medications.  Obviously, these patients are also the ones at higher risk for discontinuing or decreasing the times they fill their prescriptions,” said Anna Marie Napolitano, vice president and category business leader, cardiovascular, GfK Market Measures.  "While minimizing spending on conveniences and luxuries also mirrors what is happening in today’s tough economic times, choosing less expensive – and in some cases, less nutritious – food items may ultimately have a direct impact on health, continuing a vicious cycle for these patients.”

785 Physicians, Pharmacists and Patients Share Their Insights

Reflecting insights from 201 physicians, including primary care physicians and cardiologists, 197 retail pharmacists and 387 hypertension sufferers, fielded via Internet questionnaire during July 2008, GfK Market Measures’ 2008 Impact of Co-Pays in the Antihypertensive Category Study provides details of the interaction of co-pay encounters between physicians and patients, pharmacists and patients, and pharmacists and physicians.  Issues include an understanding of what drives prescription switches at the point of sale and what influences physicians when choosing a brand or generic.