25 Jun Surprising Number of Patients Do Not Take Their Prescribed Statin Medication
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Heli Halava:
Departments of Public Health and Pharmacology,
Turku, Finland
MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Halava: The associations between lifestyle factors and nonadherence to statin therapy varied by cardiovascular comorbidity status. Of the participants without cardiovascular comorbidities (n = 6458), 3171 (49.1%) were nonadherent with their statin therapy. Of the participants with cardiovascular comorbidities (n = 2827), 1155 (40.9%) were nonadherent.
People with cardiovascular comorbidities who had risky drinking behaviours or a cluster of lifestyle risks were at increased risk of nonadherence.
MedicalResearch: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Halava: Among individuals without cardiovascular comorbidities, overweight, obesity and former smoking were predictors of better adherence.
This provides insight into mechanisms of adherence to preventive medication that deserve further study.
MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Halava: A recent meta-analysis of 44 epidemiologic studies suggested that almost 1 in 10 cardiovascular events can be attributed to medication nonadherence (defined as taking less than 80% of the prescribed medication).
Among patients with cardiovascular diseases or diabetes those with high mean alcohol consumption, extreme drinking occasions or clustering of 3-4 lifestyle risks may be at high risk of nonadherence.
MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Halava: Mechanisms of adherence to preventive medication deserve further study.
Citation:
Last Updated on November 4, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD