Medication Adherence

Abstract

Abstract-Medication adherence usually refers to whether patients take their medications as prescribed (eg, twice daily), as well as whether they continue to take a prescribed medication. Medication nonadherence is a growing concern to clinicians, healthcare systems, and other stakeholders (eg, payers) because of mounting evidence that it is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes and higher costs of care. To date, measurement of patient medication adherence and use of interventions to improve adherence are rare in routine clinical practice. The goals of the present report are to address (1) different methods of measuring adherence, (2) the prevalence of medication nonadherence, (3) the association between nonadherence and outcomes, (4) the reasons for nonadherence, and finally, (5)

Antihypertensive Medication Adherence and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Older Adults: A Population‐Based Cohort Study

“…Many randomized, control trials demonstrated the benefit of antihypertensive medications (antihypertensives) on reduction of risk for CVD morbidity and mortality 2, 3. Despite the benefit of antihypertensive therapies, many studies suggested suboptimal adherence to these medications, particularly among older adults with multiple chronic conditions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Nonadherence to antihypertensives is associated with increased risk for CVD, hospitalization, and healthcare costs 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.…”

“…Despite the benefit of antihypertensive therapies, many studies suggested suboptimal adherence to these medications, particularly among older adults with multiple chronic conditions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Nonadherence to antihypertensives is associated with increased risk for CVD, hospitalization, and healthcare costs 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Many observational studies examined the relationship between antihypertensive adherence and CVD outcomes in the general hypertension population 5, 13, 17.…”

“…Nonadherence to antihypertensives is associated with increased risk for CVD, hospitalization, and healthcare costs 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Many observational studies examined the relationship between antihypertensive adherence and CVD outcomes in the general hypertension population 5, 13, 17. While some focused on older adults,4, 9, 18, 19, 20 few examined this relationship among older adults who were newly initiated on antihypertensives without previous CVD.…”

Meta‐Analysis of Medication Adherence Interventions Among Heart Failure Patients: The Lumpers Make Their Case

“…In the 2000 years since, it remains unclear how much progress has been made. Research shows that medication nonadherence remains highly prevalent and is associated with adverse outcomes and higher costs of care 2, 3. For example, a year after sustaining an acute myocardial infarction, less than 50% of patients are filling prescriptions for statin, beta‐blocker, and angiotensin‐converting‐enzyme inhibitor medications, even when these medications are offered with no copay 4.…”

“…One of the common features of successful interventions has been regular follow‐up with healthcare providers, often through focused heart failure disease management clinics 3. Given the burden of medication initiation with new and worsening heart failure and issues with polypharmacy, transitions from hospital‐to‐home after a hospital admission for heart failure decompensation are particularly vulnerable periods for patients.…”