[Comparison of statin and antiplatelet therapy adherence in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention patients]

According to epidemiological data from Hungary, cardiovascular diseases cause the greatest loss of health among the population and are responsible for a significant proportion of premature deaths. This reinforces the health policy position that cardiovascular prevention, including improving medication adherence, must be given top priority in patient care. Long-term survival in patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome depends heavily on medication adherence, particularly regarding statins and anticoagulants; however, domestic surveys indicate deficiencies in the use of preventive medications.

The aim of our study was to compare the attitudes and beliefs regarding antiplatelet agents and cholesterol-lowering drugs among patients in the secondary prevention group who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and those in the primary prevention control group, using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ).

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study included 162 secondary prevention patients and 136 primary prevention patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. Medication attitudes were measured using the specific and general dimensions of the BMQ, and SPSS 27.0 was used for statistical analysis.

Among patients in the secondary prevention group, both drug groups were characterized by lower levels of concern and more accepting attitudes, whereas in the primary prevention group, sceptical (p<0.05) and ambivalent attitudes were more common (p<0.001). Based on the analysis of respondents by attitude group and the examination of the BMQ's general subscales, percutaneous coronary intervention significantly influenced beliefs regarding medications. This change was clinically significant in terms of treatment adherence (p<0.001) Discussion and conclusion: Patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention have more favourable attitudes toward medication, which highlights the role of targeted education and psychoeducation in improving adherence in the non-intervention population. However, adherence in the secondary prevention group cannot be considered optimal either, therefore further targeted education is warranted in this patient group as well. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(31): 1238-1247.