Dive Brief:
- A new study finds that people with heart disease or diabetes are more likely to continue to stay on statins.
- Heavy drinkers are less likely to continue the medication, possibly out of fear of drug interaction, the study indicates.
- The study was published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal online.
Dive Insight:
The study looked at more than 9,000 Finnish participants who began taking statins between 1998 and 2010. It found that patients who did not have cardiovascular comorbidities -- two or more chronic conditions -- were far less likely to stay on statins, with nearly half not adhering to the prescribed treatment. Also, heavy drinkers were less likely to adhere to therapy, according to the study.
The survey used dispensing data to track whether those surveyed were taking statins as prescribed.