Shocking figures reveal cost of non-adherence in heart disease patients
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) released the study showing the devastating impact of coronary artery disease on those patients who are most at risk of poor outcomes. The study focusied on patients who were not receiving recommended preventive medications after six months.1 Leading Cardiology Professor Michel Komajda, of the University Pierre and Marie Curie and Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, highlights the importance of patients remaining visible to physicians and the need for prescription medicines and preventive measures to be adhered to. He suggests that too many patients are lost to the system after their initial visit to a hospital or outpatient clinic.
Professor Komajda said: “These patients are at high risk of dying or being rehospitalised in the short-term and should be carefully monitored by physicians. We identified clinical factors which are strongly associated with this high risk which can easily be assessed.”
He added: “It is likely that there is insufficient handover of these patients to a cardiologist or GP and so their prescriptions are not renewed.”
While the study did not assess the reasons for the reduction in prescriptions, it is possible that factors include patients getting tired of taking pills or being unable to afford them.
Professor Komajda concluded: “The study shows that patients with chronic ischaemic cardiovascular disease have a high risk of poor short-term outcomes. Yet some are not receiving recommended preventive medications which could improve their outlook.
The data shows that patients have a better chance of receiving recommended medications while in hospital or directly after an outpatient appointment. Six months later, drugs they should be taking to reduce the risk of death and rehospitalisation are prescribed less frequently.
More efforts are needed to ensure that these patients continue to be monitored and treated after they leave hospital or an outpatient appointment.”
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References
1 Komajda M, et al. The chronic ischaemic cardiovascular disease ESC Pilot Registry: Results of the six-month follow-up. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2018. DOI: 10.1177/2047487317751955
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