Medication adherence: Importance, issues and policy: A policy statement from the American Heart Association

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Medication adherence is crucial for treatment efficacy, yet provider frustration is common due to patient non-adherence.
• Time constraints limit providers' ability to assess medication adherence levels.
• Challenges to adherence exist at patient-provider, healthcare system, and insurance/payment levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted issues surrounding medication adherence.
• To identify policy and structural changes needed to improve medication adherence in the U.S.
• To support the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's goal of enhancing medication adherence for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and stroke.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of unintentional nonadherence.
• Analysis of data from over 24,000 adults with chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia).

Main Results:

• 62% of surveyed adults with chronic illness reported forgetting to take medications.
• 37% reported running out of their medications within a year.
• Significant rates of unintentional nonadherence underscore the need for systemic solutions.

Conclusions:

• High rates of unintentional nonadherence necessitate urgent policy and systems-level interventions.
• Improving medication adherence, particularly for cardiovascular diseases, can significantly impact patient outcomes.
• Transforming medication adherence requires comprehensive structural changes within the U.S. healthcare landscape.