Medical College of Wisconsin
CTSIResearch InformaticsREDCap

Racial differences in adherence to cardiac medications. J Natl Med Assoc 2003 Jan;95(1):17-27

Date

03/27/2003

Pubmed ID

12656446

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2594358

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0037264644 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   102 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there are racial differences in adherence to cardiac medications.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.

PATIENTS: African-American and white male veterans aged 45 years or older who had received any of four groups of drugs: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), beta-blockers (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs,) or HMG CoA (hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A) reductase inhibitors (statins).

DATA: Administrative records were used to identify eligible veterans and their demographic characteristics, medical diagnoses, and medication use. We used a standard measure of adherence to medications based on whether the veteran obtained enough drug to take it as prescribed on 80% of the days.

RESULTS: We identified 833 eligible African-American and 4436 eligible white veterans. In univariable analysis, African Americans were less likely to be adherent to medications than whites for ACEIs (81.4% versus 87.6%, P = 0.004), CCBs (75.3% versus 81.7%, P = 0.003), and statins (59.9% versus 74.1%, P < 0.001) but not BBs (84.8% versus 83.5%, P = 0.6). In multivariable analysis, racial differences in adherence to medications were found primarily among veterans younger than 55 years old.

CONCLUSIONS: Younger African Americans were less adherent to medications than whites in a setting where financial barriers are minimized. Although the reason for this finding is unclear, it may contribute to high cardiovascular morbidity among African Americans.

Author List

Charles H, Good CB, Hanusa BH, Chang CC, Whittle J

Author

Jeffrey Whittle BS, MPH, MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Age Factors
Aged
Cardiovascular Agents
Cardiovascular Diseases
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Compliance
Retrospective Studies
United States