Factors Influencing Patient Adherence to Cardiovascular Medication Regimens

Aspects other than the number and dosage of drugs can have substantial effects.

Patients with cardiovascular disease are often prescribed multiple medications, some of which require several daily doses. In a study sponsored by a large commercial prescription and health services provider, investigators assessed how various characteristics of medication regimens related to adherence in patients who were prescribed a statin (n=1,827,395) or either an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) (n=1,480,304) during a 1-year period. Regimen characteristics included number of medications, unique drug classes, number of prescribers, number of pharmacies used, and consolidation (a measure of the number of pharmacy visits per filled prescription).

Patients' mean age was 63, 49% were men…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)