Friday, November 24, 2006

Medication adherence and mortality after MI

Patients with myocardial infarction frequently discontinue evidence based medications (aspirin, statins, beta blockers) soon after discharge. According to this study such patients have an increased mortality.

The current fragmentation of ambulatory care will only make this problem worse. Hospitalists are often the ones who start such medications, and therefore have a significant role in secondary prevention. This study suggests a need for more aggressive patient education and case management at discharge.

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