Poor Statin Adherence Increases Mortality Risk in Patients With CVD

Low adherence to statin therapy was associated with greater risk of dying in a national sample of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Researchers published their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

“Our findings underscore the importance of finding methods to improve adherence,” researchers wrote.

The study included 347,104 adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and stable statin prescriptions treated within the Veterans Affairs Health System.

Over an average 2.9 years of follow-up, nearly 25% of the study population died. Compared with patients who were most adherent to statins, which was defined of a medication possession ratio of 90% or more:

• patients with a medication possession ratio of less than 50% had a hazard ratio of 1.30,
• patients with a medication possession ratio between 50% and 69% had a hazard ratio of 1.21, and
• patients with a medication possession ratio between 70% and 89% had a hazard ratio of 1.08, according to the study.

Researchers found that women, minorities, and younger adults, and older adults were less likely to adhere to statins. However, the study population was mainly white (81.9%) and male (98.4%).

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference

Rodriguez F, Maron DJ, Knowles JW, Virani SS, Lin S, Heidenreich PA. Association of statin adherence with mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. JAMA Cardiol. Published online February 13, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2018.4936