Key result
Combining lifestyle modification with medication is linked to better clinical outcomes than medication alone.
Why the study?
While both guideline-directed pharmacological therapy and sustained lifestyle modification are essential for CAD secondary prevention, this study sought to evaluate their combined association with clinical outcomes and medication adherence.
Does adherence to combined lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy improve clinical outcomes compared to pharmacological therapy alone in adult patients with coronary artery disease?
Observational (n=100)
No
Does adherence to combined lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy improve clinical outcomes compared to pharmacological therapy alone in adult patients with coronary artery disease?
In patients with coronary artery disease, combining adherence to recommended lifestyle modifications with pharmacological therapy was associated with significantly better clinical outcomes than adherence to pharmacological therapy alone.
Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although guideline-directed pharmacological therapy is central to secondary prevention, sustained lifestyle modification is also essential for risk-factor control. This study evaluated the association of combined lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy with clinical outcomes and medication adherence among patients with CAD.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 100 adult patients with CAD admitted to the Department of Cardiology of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Hyderabad, India, over six months. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, pharmacological treatment patterns, medication adherence, lifestyle modification, and clinical outcomes were assessed prospectively. The predefined clinical outcome measure was compared between patients adhering to both pharmacological therapy and recommended lifestyle modification (n=37) and those adhering to pharmacological therapy alone (n=44) using the Mann–Whitney U test.Results: Among the 100 enrolled patients, 64% were male and 36% were female. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities. Antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and statins were among the most frequently prescribed drug classes. Medication adherence was reported in all enrolled participants, whereas 47% followed the recommended lifestyle modifications; 16% were lost to follow-up. The combined-adherence group had significantly different clinical outcome measurements compared with the medication-only group (Mann–Whitney U=15, =−7.57, p=0.001).Conclusion: In this single-center prospective observational study adherence to both pharmacological therapy and lifestyle modification was associated with better clinical outcomes than pharmacological therapy alone. The findings support integrated secondary-prevention strategies, while larger multicenter studies with standardized adherence measures, clearly defined clinical outcomes, and longer follow-up are needed for confirmation.
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Dr. Chatla Sumana*, Dr. Syed Abdul Quddus, Dr. Ameesha Kumari Sharma, Dr. Parshapaka Anil (2026) conducted an observational in Coronary artery disease (n=100). Adherence to combined lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy vs. Adherence to pharmacological therapy alone was evaluated on Predefined clinical outcome measure (Mann-Whitney U=15, z=-7.57, p=0.001). Combined adherence to lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy was associated with better clinical outcomes than medication alone (Mann-Whitney U=15, p=0.001).
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