Chang C.-J.Chou T.-C.Chang C.-C.TA-FU CHENHu C.-J.Fuh J.-L.Wang W.Chen C.-M.Hsu W.Huang C.-C.2020-11-032020-11-0320192352-8737https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060751501&doi=10.1016%2fj.trci.2018.06.013&partnerID=40&md5=1146aac984917eedad06525f05e2754dhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/519454Introduction: The objective of the study was to assess adherence and persistence of patients treated with rivastigmine versus donepezil. Methods: Persistence was calculated as the time from the first prescription date of rivastigmine/donepezil until discontinuation/medication switch/end of available data, whichever occurred first. Adherence was calculated as proportion of days covered and medication possession ratio. Results: A majority of patients persisted on 4.5 and 6 mg of rivastigmine for 429 and 468 days, respectively, versus 443 and 441 days for patients receiving 5 and 10 mg of donepezil daily, respectively. Patients who initially received 1.5 mg of oral rivastigmine required a shorter time to reach a stable dose compared with those who initiated treatment at a higher dose of rivastigmine. Patients at a stable dose of 4.5 or 6 mg of rivastigmine were observed to persist longer than those at a lower dose of rivastigmine and donepezil. Discussion: Although results indicate significant difference in persistence between rivastigmine and donepezil groups, clinical significance remains undetermined. ? 2018 The AuthorsAdherence; Donepezil; National Health Insurance Research Database; Persistence; Rivastigmine[SDGs]SDG3donepezil; rivastigmine; adult; Article; comparative study; controlled study; dementia; drug dose increase; female; human; long term care; major clinical study; male; national health insurance; patient compliance; prescription; priority journal; retrospective study; Taiwan; treatment duration; treatment outcomejournal article10.1016/j.trci.2018.06.0132-s2.0-85060751501