Evaluation of Medication Compliance for Secondary Prevention of Acute Coronary Syndrome. Issue 4 (1st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gill, Dalvir; Feldman, Elizabeth A.; Liu, Kan
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 30:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 410
• Page End: 412
• Publication Date: 2017-10-01
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2017.11930208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8280

Abstract

Abstract : To prevent recurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), national practice guidelines recommend use of five-drug combination therapy. Our study assessed the proportion of patients discharged on all five medications following ACS and determined reasons for nonadherence. A retrospective, single-center chart review was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center. Patients 18 years and older who were admitted to the cardiac care unit with a diagnosis of ACS between January 2013 and January 2015 were included. Overall, 200 patients were screened and 155 were included in the study. Half of the patients received all guideline-recommended classes of pharmacological agents at discharge. The other half–78 patients–did not receive the five-drug combination, of whom 48 (62%) had reasons documented for nonadherence. Our study's findings suggest that rates of adherence need to improve given the clear benefits of these medications.