Study looks at ways to keep seniors healthier

Janet Kanters
Times Associate Editor

 

Alberta researchers hope 5,000 seniors across the province can help them improve the health of those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Researchers are trying to determine if interventions such as providing free preventive medications and personalized educational programs will help seniors better follow the recommendations of their doctors.
The project, called ACCESS (Assessing outcomes of enhanced Chronic disease Care through patient Education and a value-based formulary Study), is funded by Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and others.
About 40 per cent of people with chronic conditions take their prescribed medications 100 per cent of the time, according to Dr. Braden Manns, a Calgary nephrologist and the principal investigator in the study.
“You can’t feel high blood pressure or high cholesterol and so it’s sometimes difficult for patients to understand the importance of taking preventive medications when they’re not currently experiencing any symptoms,” said Dr. Manns, also a professor in the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine’s departments of medicine and community health sciences.
Not taking recommended medications can hasten the development of cardiovascular disease and increase the risk of life-threatening events, including heart attack and stroke.
“The other reason people might not be getting their prescriptions filled is financial. Although insurance covers a significant portion of the cost of medication, the amount of the co-payment can still be a significant burden for some seniors,” Manns added.
Estimates suggest treatment costs for chronic conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as well as heart attack and stroke, wind up costing the Canadian health system more than $93 billion a year.
According to Dr. Scott Klarenbach, an Edmonton nephrologist and professor of medicine at the University of Alberta, who is involved in the study, an important element that is being studied is the personalized educational component.
“People have the option of doing the program online or through the mail. The idea is that it gives people information and skills in a positive, engaging way that might allow them to better manage their conditions.”
To participate in the three-year study, individuals must be over 65 years of age, have an annual household income less than $50,000, and be at high risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event.
Participants will have a 50 per cent chance of receiving free preventive medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, blood thinners and medications to help stop smoking for the duration of the study. Study participants also receive a pedometer and regular check-ins by phone with study coordinators.
Researchers are assessing the outcomes of people randomly assigned to four different intervention groups within the study: those who continue their present medication coverage and usual education through their physician’s office; those who receive a personalized education plan; those who receive free preventive medications; or those who receive both the personalized education plan and free preventive medications.
Travel is not required for interviews or assessments; all the interactions with researchers take place by phone or e-mail.
For more information visit accesstrial.ca, email accesstrial@ucalgary.ca, or call the ACCESS study team at 1-844-944-8927.