Though a multifaceted intervention is effective in increasing medication adherence for acute cardiac syndrome patients approximately 15 percent a year after discharge, improved adherence may not contribute to improved clinical outcome measures, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Researchers enrolled approximately 250 patients in a randomized clinical trial for the medication adherence intervention, which consisted on medication reconciliation and customization from a pharmacist, patient education, collaboration between a patient's pharmacist and primary care provider and cardiologist and reminder messaging.
In general, a year after discharge, 89.3 percent of patients were medication adherent, compared with 73.9 percent compliance in the control group. The intervention showed particular benefits for blood thinners and statins but not beta blockers.
While medication adherence differed between the groups, both had statistically similar proportions of patients who achieved blood pressure and cholesterol targets over the course of the intervention period.
Researchers concluded more research is needed into the relationship between medication adherence and improved clinical outcomes.
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