Adherence to Secondary Preventative Medications One Year Post Stroke

Abstract Background Adherence to secondary preventative medications is critical to reduce subsequent vascular events after ischaemic stroke. Many stroke risk factors are modifiable, but adherence is poor in up to 40% of stroke survivors. Guidelines recommend the use of antithrombotic, lipid lowering and antihypertensive medication. We examined adherence to these medications one year post stroke. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to an Irish level 3 hospital with an acute stroke between July 2022 and June 2023. Stroke survivors were interviewed a year after stroke onset, either in clinic or in their home, and asked to show the interviewer all current medications. Adherence to three categories of secondary prevention medications and knowledge of their indication was assessed. Results 172 stroke patients were contacted and 64% agreed to participate. The cohort included 62% males and average age was 69.9 years. The majority (72/110, 65%) had a modified Rankin score (mRS) of 0-2. The proportion of participants reporting full adherence to all prescribed medications was 81% (89/110) with adherence rates of 81% for lipid lowering agents and 88% for both antithrombotics and antihypertensives. Adherence was higher in participants who had an involved caregiver (85.9% vs 73.9%) and in those with mRS 2 (94.9% vs 73.2%). There was no significant difference between age or gender subgroups. Knowledge of the indication was 62% for antithrombotics and 55% for lipid-lowering drugs. Conclusion Self-reported adherence to secondary preventative medications was high in this cohort but one in five stroke survivors reported poor adherence increasing their risk for recurrent stroke. Adherence was highest for antithrombotics and lowest for lipid-lowering drugs. Adherence is higher in more dependent individuals and helped by an involved caregiver. We observed a deficit in patient understanding of secondary prevention medications. Improving this knowledge gap could increase adherence to secondary prevention post stroke.