Medication Persistence in Stroke Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Lummis Heather L, Sketris Ingrid S, Gubitz Gordon J, Joffres Michel R, Flowerdew Gordon J
Primary Institution: Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Hypothesis
How well do stroke patients continue taking their prescribed medications over time?
Conclusion
Patients reported high medication persistence rates six and 12 months after stroke.
Supporting Evidence
- 96% of patients were prescribed an antithrombotic at discharge.
- Medication persistence was high, exceeding 90% at six and twelve months.
- Older age and prior disability were associated with nonpersistence.
Takeaway
After having a stroke, most patients keep taking their medicines for a long time, which helps them stay healthy.
Methodology
Patients admitted with stroke were followed for one year, and their medication use was tracked at discharge, six months, and twelve months.
Potential Biases
Self-reporting could lead to misclassification of medication adherence.
Limitations
Reasons for non-persistence were not formally documented, and self-reported medication use may not be accurate.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 68.2 years, with 55.7% male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0003
Confidence Interval
0.03–0.39
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website