Assessment of adherence to medication and visits in healthcare facilities for cardiovascular patients who participated in international randomized controlled trials

Aim. To study the adherence to medication and visits in healthcare facilities and to assess some parameters of the treatment quality among patients who previously participated in randomized controlled trials (RCT).

Material and methods. The TRUST (Influence of Participation in Randomized Controlled Trials on adheRence to Medicines’ Intake and regular viSits to the docTor) study included patients from the outpatient register PROFILE. The main group included patients, who from 2011 to 2018 at different times participated in one or more of the 16 international RCT — 102 patients: 53 women (52%) and 49 men (48%). The mean age of patients was 71±10 years. These 16 RCTs included patients with different cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. Personal or telephone contact was established with patients or their relatives from March to June 2019. The vital status of 88 patients was determined: 9 patients died (phone contact with relatives), 77 patients answered to questionnaires, 2 persons declined to participate in the survey.

Results. 59 patients (76,6%) visit a cardiologist at least once every 6 months, and 6 patients (7,8%) visit a cardiologist once a month. Patients who participated in RCT had high adherence rates. Thus, 33 patients (42,9%) showed high adherence, 34 patients (44,1%) — average and only 10 patients (13%) — low. Among patients with coronary artery disease, significantly higher adherence to drug therapy was observed: 25 of 48 patients (51,2%) demonstrated high adherence (p=0,015). Similar values were demonstrated in the group of diabetes patients — high adherence was observed in 17 (60,7%) of 28 patients (p=0,015). Among patients with heart rate disturbances high adherence was observed in 13 (72,2%) of 18 patients (p=0,09).

Conclusion. Preliminary results of the TRUST study confirm that previous patient involvement in RCTs has a positive effect on subsequent treatment adherence after RCT.

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