September 13, 2022European Journal of Preventive Cardiology100 citationsOpen Access
How to optimize the adherence to a guideline-directed medical therapy in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: a clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology
Structured PICO
How can healthcare professionals optimize patient adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy and lifestyle measures in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases?
P
Population
Patients requiring secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases
I
Intervention
Strategies to optimize adherence to lifestyle measures and guideline-directed medical therapy
This consensus statement provides practical, evidence-based strategies for healthcare professionals to improve patient adherence to secondary prevention therapies in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract
A key factor to successful secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is optimal patient adherence to treatment. However, unsatisfactory rates of adherence to treatment for CVD risk factors and CVD have been observed consistently over the last few decades. Hence, achieving optimal adherence to lifestyle measures and guideline-directed medical therapy in secondary prevention and rehabilitation is a great challenge to many healthcare professionals. Therefore, in this European Association of Preventive Cardiology clinical consensus document, a modern reappraisal of the adherence to optimal treatment is provided, together with simple, practical, and feasible suggestions to achieve this goal in the clinical setting, focusing on evidence-based concepts.