Adherence to drug therapy in patients after acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review of the literature

https://doi.org/10.70626/cardiouz-2025-2-%25x
FULL TEXT:

Abstract

Aim. To systematically analyze current approaches to assessing and improving medication adherence in patients after acute myocardial infarction during outpatient follow-up, with a particular focus on factors influencing treatment adherence and the role of a multidisciplinary approach.


Materials and Methods. A systematic review of the literature on medication adherence after acute myocardial infarction was conducted. Data from large international studies were analyzed, including a meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 106,002 patients, the 2023 American Heart Association scientific statement, the 2023 ESC and 2025 ACC/AHA guidelines, and current cardiac rehabilitation programs.


Results. A meta-analysis showed that good adherence to drug therapy is associated with reduced all-cause mortality (odds ratio 0.56; 95% CI: 0.45-0.69), cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51-0.87), and hospitalization rates (OR 0.61; 95% CI: 0.45-0.82). Non-adherence to therapy occurs in 30% of patients after myocardial infarction. Shared decision making, structured cardiac rehabilitation programs, and the involvement of multidisciplinary teams significantly improve long-term treatment adherence.


Conclusion. Adherence to drug therapy is a key factor in improving the prognosis of patients after acute myocardial infarction. A multidisciplinary approach, including shared decision making, patient education, pharmaceutical counseling, and the use of digital technologies, demonstrates the greatest effectiveness in improving adherence.

About the Authors

List of references

Martin SS, et al. 2024 Heart disease and stroke statistics: a report of US and global data from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024 Feb;149(8):e347–e913. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.000000000000 1209.

2025 Heart disease and stroke statistics: a report of US and global data from the American Heart Association. Circulation [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.ahajournals.org/, https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303.

Ostry˘ı koronarniy sindrom bez pod’yema segmenta ST elektrokardiogrammy: klinicheskie rekomendatsii 2024. Rossiiskii Kardiologicheskii Zhurnal [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://russjcardiol.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/6319?locale=ru_RU. In Russian: «Острый коронарный синдром без подъема сегмента ST электрокардиограммы. Клинические рекомендации 2024 | Аверков | Российский кардиологический журнал». Просмотрено: 24 октябрь 2025 г. [Онлайн]. Доступно на: https://russjcardiol.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/6319?locale=ru_RU.

2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI guideline for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.ahajournals.org/, https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001309.

Didier R, Gilard M. Follow-up management after an acute coronary syndrome. ESC CardioPractice [Internet]. [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.escardio.org/Councils/Council-for-Cardiology-Practice-(CCP)/Cardiopractice/follow-up-management-after-an-acute-coronary- syndrome.

Du L, Cheng Z, Zhang Y, Li Y, Mei D. The impact of medication adherence on clinical outcomes of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2017 Jun;24(9):962–970. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487317695628.

2023 ESC guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical- Practice-Guidelines/Acute-Coronary-Syndromes-ACS-Guidelines.

Dennison Himmelfarb CR, et al. Shared decision-making and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023 Sep;148(11):912–931. https://doi.org/10.1161/ CIR.0000000000001162.

Zare-Kaseb A, Emami Zeydi A, Bakhtiari-Dovvombaygi H, Nazari AM. Effects of education based on teach-back methods on self-care and quality of life of patients with heart failure: a systematic review. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2024 Oct;24(1):591. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-024-04264-5.

2024 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations: summary from the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces. Circulation [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/ 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001288.

Huriani E. Myocardial infarction patients’ learning needs: perceptions of patients, family members and nurses. Int J Nurs Sci. 2019 Jul;6(3):294–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.05.001.

Isted A, Williams R, Oakeshott P. Secondary prevention following myocardial infarction: a clinical update. Br J Gen Pract. 2018 Mar;68(668):151–152. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X695261.

Ibanez B, et al. Beta-blockers after myocardial infarction without reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2025 Aug; https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2504735.

Du L, Cheng Z, Zhang Y, Li Y, Mei D. The impact of medication adherence on clinical outcomes of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2017 Jun;24(9):962–970. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487317695628.

Huber CA, Meyer MR, Steffel J, Blozik E, Reich O, Rosemann T. Post–myocardial infarction (MI) care: medication adherence for secondary prevention after MI in a large real-world population. Clin Ther. 2019 Jan;41(1):107–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.11.012.

Chen C, Li X, Su Y, You Z, Wan R, Hong K. Adherence with cardiovascular medications and outcomes in patients with coronary arterial disease: “real-world” evidence. Clin Cardiol. 2022 Dec;45(12):1220–1228. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.23898.

Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, DeMeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD. Optimism and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2017 Jan;185(1):21–29. https://doi.org/10.1093/ aje/kww182.

Nasyrova Z, Ismati N. Innovative methods of cardiac rehabilitation after CABG and PCI: current trends and prospects. ARIMS. 2025 May;4(25):132–140.

Dennison Himmelfarb CR, et al. Shared decision-making and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023 Sep;148(11):912–931. https://doi.org/10.1161/ CIR.0000000000001162.

Klein LW, Anderson HV, Cigarroa J. Shared decision-making in cardiovascular practice. Cardiol Rev. 2023 Feb;31(1):52–56. https://doi.org/10.1097/CRD.0000000000000434.

MacDonald BJ, Turgeon RD. Incorporation of shared decision-making in international cardiovascular guidelines, 2012–2022. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Sep;6(9):e2332793. https://doi.org/10.1001/ jamanetworkopen.2023.32793.

Turkson-Ocran R-AN, Ogunwole SM, Hines AL, Peterson PN. Shared decision making in cardiovascular patient care to address cardiovascular disease disparities. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Oct;10(20):e018183. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.018183.

Consensus and position papers on prevention and rehabilitation. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) [Internet]. [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Scientific- Documents/EAPC-Publications.

Thomas RJ, et al. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation: a scientific statement from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Jul;74(1):133–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.0 3.008.

Shang P, et al. Association between medication adherence and 1-year major cardiovascular adverse events after acute myocardial infarction in China. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019 May;8(9):e011793. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.011793.

Smoking cessation strategies after acute coronary syndrome. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/4/1388

Visseren FLJ, et al. 2021 ESC guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J. 2021 Sep;42(34):3227–3337. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab484.

Perpetua EM, et al. JACC: Advances expert panel perspective: shared decision-making in multidisciplinary team-based cardiovascular care. JACC Adv. 2024 Jul;3(7):100981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100981.

Gao L, et al. Impact of continuous pharmaceutical care led by clinical pharmacists during transitions of care on medication adherence and clinical outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease: a prospective cohort study. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1249636. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1249636.

Weeda E, et al. Impact of pharmacist-driven transitions of care interventions on post-hospital outcomes among patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review. J Pharm Pract. 2023 Jun;36(3):668–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900211064155.

Yadav S, Kalal N, Sharma SK, Deora S. The development and randomised feasibility trial of a nurse-led lifestyle modification follow-up programme among post-myocardial infarction patients. J Res Nurs. 2023 May;28(3):230–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871231163983.

Dhanyabad A, Naraynan V. Impact of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life of cardiac patients: a systematic review. Int J Adv Res Med Surg Nurs. 2022 Jul;4(2):132–136. https://doi.org/10.33545/surgicalnursing.2022.v4.i2b.107.

Arshed M, Mahmud AB, Minhat HS, Ying LP, Umer MF. Effectiveness of mHealth interventions in medication adherence among patients with cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review. Diseases. 2023 Mar;11(1):41. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases11010041.

Yu C, et al. Smartphone-based application to improve medication adherence in patients after surgical coronary revascularization. Am Heart J. 2020 Oct;228:17–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2020.06.019.

Cho J, et al. Projected cost savings with optimal medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease requiring lipid-lowering therapy: a multinational economic evaluation study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Nov;13(22):e037792. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.037792.

Rodriguez F, Maron DJ, Knowles JW, Virani SS, Lin S, Heidenreich PA. Association of statin adherence with mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. JAMA Cardiol. 2019 Mar;4(3):206–213. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2018.4936.

Zhao B, He X, Wu J, Yan S. Adherence to statins and its impact on clinical outcomes: a retrospective population-based study in China. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2020 Jun;20(1):282. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-020-01566-2.

Views: 3

How to Cite

Adherence to drug therapy in patients after acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review of the literature. (2025). CARDIOLOGY OF UZBEKISTAN, 2(4), 395-402. https://doi.org/10.70626/cardiouz-2025-2-%x

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

ISSN 3060-4850 (Print)