Improving patient adherence to secondary prevention medications 6 months after an acute coronary syndrome: observational cohort study

Addressing residual risk beyond statin therapy: New targets in the management of dyslipidaemias-A report from the European Society of Cardiology Cardiovascular Round Table

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the most common cause of death in Europe. Despite proven benefits, use of lipid-lowering therapy remains suboptimal. Treatment goals are often not achieved, even in patients at high risk with atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD). The occurrence of CV events in patients on lipid-lowering drugs is defined as "residual risk", and can result from inadequate control of plasma lipids or blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, and environmental hazards. Assessment of CV risk factors and vascular imaging can aid in the evaluation and management decisions for individual patients. Lifestyle measures remain the primary intervention for lowering CV risk. Where drug therapies are required to reach lipid treatment targets, their effectiveness increases when they are combined with lifestyle measures delivered through formal programs. However, lipid drug dosage and poor adherence to treatment remain major obstacles to event-free survival. This article discusses guideline-supported treatment algorithms beyond statin therapy that can help reduce residual risk in specific patient profiles while also likely resulting in substantial healthcare savings through better patient management and treatment adherence.

Comparing secondary prevention for patients with coronary heart disease and stroke attending Australian general practices: a cross-sectional study using nationwide electronic database

OBJECTIVES

To compare secondary prevention care for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, exploring particularly the influences due to frequency and regularity of primary care visits.

SETTING

Secondary prevention for patients (≥18 years) in the National Prescription Service administrative electronic health record database collated from 458 Australian general practice sites across all states and territories.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional and panel study. Patient and care-level characteristics were compared for differing CHD/stroke diagnoses. Associations between the type of cardiovascular diagnosis and medication prescription as well as risk factor assessment were examined using multivariable logistic regression.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with three or more general practice encounters within 2 years of their latest visit during 2016-2020.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Proportions and odds ratios (ORs) for (1) prescription of antihypertensives, antilipidaemics and antiplatelets and (2) assessment of blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with stroke only compared against those with CHD only and those with both conditions.

RESULTS

There were 111 892 patients with CHD only, 27 863 with stroke only and 9791 with both conditions. Relative to patients with CHD, patients with stroke were underprescribed antihypertensives (70.8% vs 82.8%), antilipidaemics (63.1% vs 78.7%) and antiplatelets (42.2% vs 45.7%). With sociodemographic factors, comorbidities and level of care considered as covariates, the odds of non-prescription of any recommended secondary prevention medications were higher in patients with stroke only (adjusted OR 1.37; 95% CI (1.31, 1.44)) compared with patients with CHD only. Patients with stroke only were also more likely to have neither BP nor LDL-C monitored (adjusted OR 1.26; 95% CI (1.18, 1.34)). Frequent and regular general practitioner encounters were independently associated with the prescription of secondary prevention medications (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary prevention management is suboptimal in cardiovascular disease patients and worse post-stroke compared with post-CHD. More frequent and regular primary care encounters were associated with improved secondary prevention.

Patient Adherence to Secondary Prevention Therapies After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Adherence to guideline-recommended, long-term secondary preventative therapies among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is fundamental to improving long-term outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide a broad synopsis of pertinent studies in a structured and comprehensive way regarding factors that influence patient adherence to medical therapy after ACS.

METHODS

Relevant articles focusing on adherence to medical therapy after ACS were retrieved from the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases (search date, September 7, 2021). Studies were independently screened, and relevant information was extracted.

FINDINGS

A total of 58 studies were identified by using the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases. Adherence to secondary prevention was moderate to low and steadily decreased over time. Nearly 30% of patients discontinued one or more medications within 90 days of their primary ACS, and adherence decreased to 50% to 60% at 1 year postdischarge. There were no major differences in adherence between drug classes. Factors influencing patient adherence can be broadly divided into 3 categories: patient related, health care system related, and disease related. Patients managed with percutaneous coronary interventions were more adherent to follow-up treatment than medically managed patients. Depression was reported as a major psychological factor that negatively affected adherence. Improved adherence was observed when higher levels of patient education and provider engagement were delivered during postdischarge follow-up, particularly when scheduled early. Notably, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was lower in hospitals with high 90-day medication adherence than those with moderate or low adherence.

IMPLICATIONS

Patient nonadherence to guideline-recommended long-term pharmacologic secondary preventative therapies after ACS is multifactorial. A comprehensive multifaceted approach should be implemented to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. This approach should include key interventions such as early follow-up visits, high medication adherence at 90 days, patient engagement and education, and development of novel interventions that support the 3 broad categories influencing patient adherence as discussed in this review.

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

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.

Real-world barriers and safety of initiating sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor treatment immediately following an acute cardiac event in people with diabetes

In this real-world study, the main barriers for not initiating SGLT2 inhibitor therapy early after an acute cardiac event are prescribing criteria around glycated haemoglobin and renal function. Initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors near to, or at, hospital discharge following the cardiac event was not associated with 30-day diabetic ketoacidosis readmissions.

The of effect of partnership-based education on adherence to the treatment plans in open heart surgery

BACKGROUND

Adherence to the treatment plans is one of the most effective conducts to prevent and reduce postoperative side effects. Partnership-based education is one of the most efficient ways to shape health behaviors. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of partnership-based education on adherence to the treatment plans in open heart surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2019-2020 on the patients undergoing open heart surgery in Tehran (Capital of Iran). Sampling was done in one educational hospital. A total of 86 patients and their caregivers participated in the study. Sampling was done nonrandomly by tossing a coin, and patients were allocated into the odd week in the intervention group and the even week in the control group (n = 43 in each group), and data were collected before and after intervention using the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire concerning dietary, physical activity, and medication aspects. The educational intervention was carried out after the pretest analysis in five 20-45 min sessions (two individual and three group educations). Data were analyzed with Chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test using SPSS 19 at a significance level of P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Patients and caregivers in both groups did not have a significant difference in terms of demographic variables (P > 0. 05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the mean of dietary, physical activity, and medication plans before the intervention in both groups; however, after the intervention, the mean of the three aspects in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of control (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Implementing partnership-based education with participation of patients and caregivers is influential in improving patients' adherence to the treatment plans and it is recommended as a clinical dynamic educational strategy.

Updated antithrombotic strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular recurrences in patients with chronic coronary syndrome

Despite recent achievements in secondary cardiovascular prevention, the risk of further events in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) remains elevated. Highest risk is seen in patients with recurrent events, comorbidities or multisite atherosclerosis. Optimising antithrombotic strategies in this setting may significantly improve outcomes. The higher the baseline risk, the higher the absolute event reduction with approaches using combined antithrombotic treatments. Tailoring such strategies to the individual patient risk appears crucial to achieve net benefit (i.e., substantial ischaemic event prevention at a limited cost in terms of bleeding). This paper focuses on antithrombotic and non-pharmacological approaches to secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in CCS. In particular, we critically review current evidence on the use of dual antithrombotic therapy, including the newest approach of aspirin plus low-dose anticoagulation and its net clinical outcome according to baseline risk.

Development of a multivariable model to predict medication non-adherence risk factor for patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop a risk prediction model for non-adherence to prescribed medication based on self-reported risk factors in patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

This is a prospective follow-up cohort study of 210 patients with ACS at a tertiary hospital in Al Ain city in the United Arab Emirates. Patients with ACS in the electronic registry who were discharged from the hospital but continued to attend outpatient clinics and were prescribed evidence-based medications were identified and interviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and used as appropriate. SPSS V24 was used for data analysis.

Key findings

A final predictive model of eight variables was developed for ACS medication non-adherence. The significant predicted risk factors identified in the final model with their odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were as follows: poor knowledge of prescribed medications (OR = 1.81; CI = 1.032–3.34; P = 0.010), five or more prescribed medicines (OR = 4.97; CI = 1.98–2.49; P = 0.007), more than twice daily dosing regimen (OR = 2.21; CI = 1.04–4.67; P = 0.039), unpleasant side-effects (OR = 2.97; CI = 1.98–2.49; P = 0.007), patients believed that side-effects were the cause of health problems (OR = 4.28; CI = 1.78–10.39; P = 0.001), patients undertaking regular exercise (OR = 2.14; CI = 1.06–4.32; P = 0.035), and comorbid diabetes (OR = 1.97; CI = 1.00–3.87; P = 0.049).

Conclusion

This study indicates poor knowledge, polypharmacy and comorbidity as risk factors associated with medication non-adherence among patients with ACS. Identification of predictors of non-adherence and strategies has the potential to reduce non-adherence dramatically.

Differences between men and women in the use of preventive medications following a major cardiovascular event: Australian prospective cohort study

Most cardiovascular disease (CVD) events can be prevented with appropriate risk management. Existing evidence suggests women are less likely than men to receive guideline-recommended medications, however data on sex-differences in preventive medication use following a CVD event are lacking. Relative risks (RRs) comparing use of blood pressure- and lipid-lowering medications in men and women at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months following hospitalisation for myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke from 2012 to 2017 were quantified using linked data from 8,278 participants enrolled in the Australian 45 and Up Study. Overall, 51% of women and 58% of men were using both blood-pressure- and lipid-lowering medications three months after a MI or stroke event, decreasing to 48% and 53%, respectively, at 12 months after an event. Adjusting for potential confounders, women were 9% less likely than men (RR = 0.91 [95% CI: 0.87, 0.95]) to be using both medications and 19% more likely (RR = 1.19 [95% CI: 1.07, 1.32]) to use neither medication three months after a MI or stroke event. At the 12-month mark, women were 8% less likely (RR = 0.92 [95% CI: 0.88, 0.97]) to be using both medications and 14% more likely (RR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.03, 1.26]) to use neither medication. Women were consistently less likely to use both preventive medications and more likely to use neither medication at each follow-up time point. Overall, there were major shortfalls in basic preventive medication use post-CVD event and sex disparities are likely to further jeopardise efforts to reduce CVD events in the community.

Investigating the Influence of the Shared Decision-Making Perception on the Patient Adherence of the Home- and Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the Global Burden of Disease study pointed out that cardiovascular disease (CVDs) were the most common causes of death and accounted for the largest disease burden worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the main treatments for coronary artery disease (CAD). Moreover, home- and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is of great importance for improving the prognosis of patients undergoing PCI. However, poor adherence to CR remains a challenging problem in these patients.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the current status of adherence to home- and exercise-based CR in patients undergoing PCI and to explore the factors affecting patient adherence to home- and exercise-based CR.

METHODS

This study was a prospective longitudinal survey that included 300 patients who met the established criteria. The selected patients completed a pre-hospital discharge questionnaire, which targeted factors that may affect patient adherence to home- and exercise-based CR. All patients were followed up 1 month after the discharge from hospitals.

RESULTS

This study analyzed 283 questionnaires and found that only 64.66% of patients had good adherence to home- and exercise-based CR. Eight independent variables, namely, shared decision-making (SDM), age, dimension of risk factors, predisposing factors, treatment methods, secondary prevention in the Perceived Knowledge Scale for CAD, and dimension of life and emotional management in the Scale of Self-Management with Coronary Artery Disease, were identified as the main factors affecting patient adherence to home- and exercise-based CR, which explains 88.9% variation (Nagel kerke R² = 0.889).

CONCLUSION

Patients who underwent PCI had poor adherence to home- and exercise-based CR. Age, SDM, knowledge about CAD, and self-management behavior were identified as independent factors affecting patient adherence to CR after PCI.

Adherence to Triple-Free-Drug Combination Therapies Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Combination therapies are often needed to modify the concomitant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Nonadherence to cardiovascular medications is a relevant concern, especially in polytherapy. We conducted a population-based, cohort study with the aim of quantifying the level of adherence and its related determinants in patients exposed to free 3-drug combination therapies, namely concurrent use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEi), calcium channel blocker (CCB), and statin or of ACEi, statin, and low-dose aspirin. Within Health Search Database, we selected a cohort of adult patients concurrently prescribed with ACEi, CCB, and statin, as well as those prescribed with ACEi, statin and low-dose aspirin, from the January 1, 2002 to the December 31, 2014. Adherent patients were concurrent users of triple free pill regimen with a proportion of days covered ≥80% during 1-year follow-up; demographics and clinical determinants of 1-year adherence were identified by multivariate logistic regression. We found that more than half of patients prescribed with triple free drug combination therapy with ACEi plus CCB plus statin or ACEi plus statin plus low-dose aspirin, were found to be nonadherent to these treatments. Males and patients at high/very-high cardiovascular risk were more likely to be adherent, whereas depression and atrial fibrillation were associated with nonadherence. Our findings indicate that sex, cardiovascular risk, presence of atrial fibrillation, and depression can influence adherence to polytherapy. In conclusion, given that patients suffering from multiple cardiovascular risk factors are at higher risk of fatal events, strategies are needed to improve medication adherence to combination therapies.

Transition of care to prevent recurrence after acute coronary syndrome: the critical role of the primary care provider and pharmacist

Despite therapeutic advances, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at an increased long-term risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. This risk continues to rise as the number of associated comorbidities, often observed in patients presenting with ACS, increases. Such a level of clinical complexity can lead to gaps in care and subsequently worse outcomes. Guidelines recommend providing an evidence-based post-discharge plan to prevent readmission and recurrent ACS, including cardiac rehabilitation, medication, patient/caregiver education, and ongoing follow-up. A patient-centric multidisciplinary approach is critical for the effective management of the transition of care from acute care in the hospital setting to the outpatient care setting in patients with ACS. Ongoing communication between in-hospital and outpatient healthcare providers ensures that the transition is smooth. Primary care providers and pharmacists have a pivotal role to play in the effective management of transitions of care in patients with ACS. Guideline recommendations regarding the post-discharge care of patients with ACS and the role of the primary care provider and the pharmacist in the management of transitions of care will be reviewed.

Prognostic significance of suboptimal secondary prevention pharmacotherapy after acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND

Optimal secondary prevention pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management. The prognostic impact of not receiving five guideline-recommended therapies is poorly described.

AIM

To ascertain the prognostic significance of suboptimal pharmacotherapy in ACS survivors.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with ACS from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry who were alive at 30 days following their index percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients were divided into three categories based on the number of secondary prevention medications prescribed. The optimal medical therapy (OMT), near-optimal medical therapy (NMT), suboptimal medical therapy (SMT) groups were prescribed 5, 4 and ≤ 3 medications, respectively. Primary endpoint was long-term mortality. Cox-proportional hazard modelling was undertaken to assess independent predictors of survival.

RESULTS

Of the 9375 patients included, 5678 (60.6%) received OMT, 2903 (31.0%) received NMT and 794 (8.5%) received SMT. Patients receiving SMT were older, more likely to be female and had higher burden of comorbidities (renal impairment, congestive heart failure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease; P < 0.01 for all). SMT was associated with higher long-term mortality at 3.9 ± 2.2 years when compared to NMT and OMT (16.8% vs 10.5% vs 8.2%, P < 0.001). Compared to OMT, SMT was an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio, HR 1.62, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.30-2.02, P < 0.01) while NMT was associated with a clinically significant 14% mortality hazard (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.97-1.34, P = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a graded long-term hazard associated with not receiving OMT after an ACS. Improvements in secondary prevention pharmacotherapy models of care are warranted to further decrease the long-term mortality.

Prevalence and association of medication nonadherence with major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction

Current study was to evaluate the prevalence of guideline recommended medications adherence in myocardial infarction (MI) patients postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the association of medication nonadherence and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).MI patients who underwent PCI in the last 12 months were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected and guideline recommended medications were evaluated. Patients were divided into with and without MACEs groups.Compared to patients without MACEs, those with MACEs were older (54.8 ± 16.4 vs 51.1 ± 15.2 years), more likely to be smoker (40.2% vs 31.9%), have higher body mass index (BMI; 25.0 ± 6.1 vs 23.8 ± 5.7 kg/m), diabetes (47.5% vs 37.8%), ischemic stroke (34.4% vs 25.6%), and estimated lower glomerular filtration rate (85.4 ± 9.6 vs 92.6 ± 10.7 mL/minute/1.73 m). Patients with MACEs were also more likely to present with ST-elevation MI (STEMI; 54.1% vs 48.4%) and to undergo urgent PCI (62.3% vs 56.3%). Furthermore, patients with MACEs were less likely to adhere to dual antiplatelet therapy (77.9% vs 85.9%), renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (62.3% vs 69.7%), and beta-blocker (69.7% vs 72.8%) treatment. In unadjusted model, medication nonadherence was associated with 2-fold higher odds of MACEs. After adjustment for demographics, risk factors, comorbidities, and peri-PCI characteristics, medications nonadherence remained independently associated with MACEs, with odds ratio of 1.40 (95% confidence interval: 1.29-1.87).Medications adherence rate among MI patients post-PCI is suboptimal in China, which is independently associated with MACEs.

Design and rationale of the MyHeartMate study: a randomised controlled trial of a game-based app to promote behaviour change in patients with cardiovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

Recurrence of cardiac events is common after a first event, leading to hospitalisations and increased health burden. Patients have difficulties achieving the lifestyle changes required for secondary prevention and access to secondary prevention programs is limited. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a game-based mobile app, MyHeartMate, which is designed to motivate engagement in secondary prevention behaviours for cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The MyHeartMate study is a randomised controlled trial with 6-month follow-up and blinded assessment of the primary outcome. Participants (n=394) with coronary heart disease will be recruited from hospitals in metropolitan Sydney and randomly allocated to standard care or the MyHeartMate app intervention. The intervention group will receive the app, which uses game techniques to promote engagement and lifestyle behaviour change for secondary prevention. The primary outcome is difference between the groups in physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task minutes/week) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, medication adherence, body mass index, waist circumference, mood and dietary changes at 6 months. Data on app engagement, and patient perspectives of usability and acceptability, will also be analysed.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has received ethics approval from Northern Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee. The study findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentation at international scientific meetings/conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12617000869370; Pre-results.