Adherence
Follow-up more than six weeks after heart attack linked to reduced medication adherence
Researchers looked at the effect of follow-up appointments on medicine adherence following acute myocardial infarction.
Source: Shutterstock.com
Heart attack patients are often prescribed medication to prevent readmission to hospital, but many have trouble adhering to their medicines
Secondary preventative therapy after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with decreased risk of readmission and mortality, but medication adherence is poor in the year following AMI.
In a study published in JAMA Cardiology (online, 23 March 2016)[1], researchers looked at the effect of follow-up appointments on medication adherence in 20,976 patients with AMI (mean age: 75.8 years).
At three months post-AMI, one in three patients was no longer adherent to medications such as beta-blockers, statins, antiplatelets and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The researchers found that patients who had their first follow-up appointment within six weeks following discharge had significantly better adherence at both 90 days and one year compared with those who were followed up later.
The team say the findings suggest that improving care transitions following discharge could increase medication adherence in patients with AMI.
Citation: Clinical Pharmacist DOI: 10.1211/CP.2016.20200932
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