Persistence with secondary prevention medications after acute myocardial infarction: Insights from the TRANSLATE-ACS study

Am Heart J. 2015 Jul;170(1):62-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2015.03.019. Epub 2015 Apr 2.

Abstract

Background: Persistent use of secondary prevention therapies after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is critical to optimizing long-term outcomes.

Methods: Medication persistence was assessed among 7,955 MI patients in 216 hospitals participating in the Treatment with Adenosine Diphosphate Receptor Inhibitors: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events after Acute Coronary Syndrome study from 2010 to 2012. Persistence was defined as continuation of aspirin, adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins from discharge to 6 months post-MI. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine factors associated with nonpersistence, defined as <80% persistence with all medication classes.

Results: Overall, 31% of MI patients stopped taking a least 1 medication by 6 months. The most common reasons cited for medications discontinuation were side effects and physician instruction (57%), whereas financial concerns were cited in 8% overall. After multivariable modeling, black race (odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.15-1.62), older age (odds ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12), atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 1.67, 95% CI 1.33-2.09), dialysis (odds ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.15-2.78), and depression (odds ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.45) were associated with lower likelihood of persistence. Private insurance (odds ratio 0.85, 95% 0.76-0.95), prescription cost assistance (odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.54-0.75), and outpatient follow-up arranged before discharge (odds ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99) were associated with higher persistence.

Conclusions: Nearly one-third of MI patients are no longer persistent with their prescribed medications by 6 months. Patients at high risk for nonpersistence may be identified by clinical and sociodemographic features. These observations underscore key opportunities to optimize longitudinal use of secondary prevention therapies.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01088503.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Logistic Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Medically Uninsured / statistics & numerical data
  • Medication Adherence / ethnology
  • Medication Adherence / psychology
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Secondary Prevention*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • White People / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists
  • Aspirin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01088503