Early Medication Nonadherence After Acute Myocardial Infarction. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mathews, Robin; Peterson, Eric D.; Honeycutt, Emily; Chin, Chee Tang; Effron, Mark B.; Zettler, Marjorie; Fonarow, Gregg C.; Henry, Timothy D.; Wang, Tracy Y.
• Is Part Of: Circulation. Volume 8:Number 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Research -- Periodicals; Outcome assessment (Medical care) -- Periodicals; Evidence-based medicine -- Periodicals; 616.1007
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.114.001223
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1941-7713

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background—</title> <p>Nonadherence to prescribed evidence-based medications after acute myocardial infarction (MI) can contribute to worse outcomes and higher costs. We sought to better understand the modifiable factors contributing to early nonadherence of evidence-based medications after acute MI.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods and Results—</title> <p>We assessed 7425 acute MI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention at 216 US hospitals participating in TReatment with ADP receptor iNhibitorS: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events after Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRANSLATE-ACS) between April 2010 and May 2012. Using the validated Morisky instrument to assess cardiovascular medication adherence at 6 weeks post MI, we stratified patients into self-reported high (score, 8), moderate (score, 6–7), and low (score, <6) adherence groups. Moderate and low adherence was reported in 25% and 4% of patients, respectively. One third of low adherence patients described missing doses of antiplatelet therapy at least twice a week after percutaneous coronary intervention. Signs of depression and patient-reported financial hardship because of medication expenses were independently associated with a higher likelihood of medication nonadherence. Patients were more likely to be adherent at 6 weeks if they had follow-up appointments made before discharge and had a provider explain potential side effects of their medications. Lower medication adherence may be associated with a higher risk of 3-month death/readmission (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.98–1.87) although this did not reach statistical significance.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions—</title> <p>Even early after MI, a substantial proportion of patients report suboptimal adherence to prescribed medications. Tailored patient education and pre discharge planning may represent actionable opportunities to optimize patient adherence and clinical outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Clinical Trial Registration—</title> <p>URL: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">http://www.clinicaltrials.gov</ext-link>. Unique identifier: NCT01088503.</p> </sec> </abstract>