High risk stroke patients less likely to observe medication schedule

Patients most at risk of heart disease or stroke, which could leave them in need of home care, are the least likely to take statins as prescribed, a new study has found.

A study from North Carolina State University found that just 48 per cent of patients prescribed statins were taking the medication regularly after one year.

Furthermore, after ten years, just 27 per cent of patients were still taking their statins as prescribed, according to the study published in Medical Decision Making.

Co-author Dr Brian Denton said: "These findings suggest that adherence-improving interventions - such as patient education or electronic reminders to take medications - can significantly improve the quality and length of life, particularly for high-risk patients."

In other news, research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has revealed that depressed patients are less likely to adhere to treatment for chronic conditions.

Research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that depressed patients are 76 per cent more likely to fail to keep to their treatment programmes in conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

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