Assessment of medication adherence and factors contributing to non-adherence to calcium and vitamin D as mainstay in treatment and prophylaxis of osteoporosis.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the adherence and persistence to Calcium and vitamin D, and address the reasons of non-adherence. Methods: All patients attending a secondary care rheumatology clinic in a teaching hospital serving a multiethnic population, in the period between April and June fulfill the inclusion criteria. Patients were asked verbally before distributing the question air about the duration and reason of prescribed Calcium and vitamin D, only patients who are receiving Calcium and Vitamin D for duration of one year or more for purpose of osteoporosis management (treatment and prophylaxis) and are welling to participate in the question are were given the consent formand included in the study. Key finding: There was no statistically significant difference between calcium and vitamin D group in terms of adherence score (p = 0.175). About third of patients in both groups showed low adherence score; 31% (53/171), 38.2% (128/335) in calcium and vitamin D groups, respectively. Overall, there was significant difference in adherence score between age groups (p = 0.001). Low adherence score was mostly reported in young age group (18–39 years) for both medications but not related to level of education. Forget to take medication was the most reported reason of non adherence in both groups (29.5%, 89/302). Quarter of patients stated that multi-reasons contributed to their non adherence (24.8%, 75/302). Conclusion: Low adherence was high among both Calcium and Vitamin D groups (around third of both groups), however; there were no significant differences in medications adherence between the two groups

Efficacy and safety of once daily liraglutide versus twice daily exenatide in type 2 diabetic patients in Qatar: an observational study.

Objective: Compare efficacy and safety of liraglutide (1.8 mg subcutaneous once daily) and exenatide (10 mcg subcutaneous twice daily) in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes at 26 and 52 weeks. Method: A retrospective observation study of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes patients who took liraglutide or exenatide in addition to their anti-diabetic medications. This study was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation, the predominant public healthcare organization in Qatar. The primary outcome was the change in haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) after 26 and 52 weeks. Key finding: Two hundred and two patients were included in this study (liraglutide 98, exenatide 114). There was no significant HbA1C change observed between two groups at either 26 or 52 weeks (P = 0.23 and 0.40 respectively). However, more patients in the liraglutide group achieved HbA1C ≤7% at week 26. Liraglutide reduced the mean Fasting blood glucose (FBG) more than exenatide at week 26 and 52. Although both medications were associated with some benefits in other studied variables at a certain point (e.g. weight losses, blood pressure), neither of them were able to show a significant change from baseline. No patients in either group reported drug-related side effects (e.g. nausea and vomiting) or episodes of hypoglycaemia during the treatment period. Conclusions; Exenatide and liraglutide resulted in similar glycaemic effects (HbA1C and fasting plasma glucose changes) in patients with type 2 diabetes who were sub-optimally controlled with other anti-diabetic therapy. However, this study supports the effectiveness of both medications for weight reduction at both endpoints. A prospective large-scale study is recommended to overcome the study limitations