Medication non-adherence increases significantly within the first 6 months after an ACS, primarily due to unintentional non-adherence, highlighting the need for early post-discharge interventions.
Non-adherence rises sharply post-ACS; supports early monitoring but leaves open optimal interventions in prospective cohorts.
OBJECTIVE: Non-adherence to medication is common among coronary heart disease patients. Non-adherence to medication may be either intentional or unintentional. In this analysis we provide estimates of intentional and unintentional non-adherence in the year following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHOD: In this descriptive prospective observational study of patients with confirmed ACS medication adherence measures were derived from responses to the Medication Adherence Report Scale at approximately 2 weeks (n=223), 6 months (n=139) and 12 months (n=136) following discharge from acute treatment for ACS. RESULTS: Total medication non-adherence was 20%, 54% and 53% at each of these time points respectively. The corresponding figures for intentional non-adherence were 8%, 15% and 15% and 15%, 52% and 53% for unintentional non-adherence. There were significant increases in the levels of medication non-adherence between the immediate discharge period (2 weeks) and 6 months that appeared to stabilize between 6 and 12 months after acute treatment for ACS. CONCLUSION: Unintentional non-adherence to medications may be the primary form of non-adherence in the year following ACS. Interventions delivered early in the post-discharge period may prevent the relatively high levels of non-adherence that appear to become established by 6 months following an ACS.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Molloy et al. (2014) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: