People who live in areas with higher poverty and unemployment are less likely to use doctor’s prescriptions for heart failure medications. This was shown by a study by scientists from New York University published in the journal. JAMA Network Open.
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle loses its ability to pump blood effectively. Previous studies have shown that the combination of four drugs reduces the risk of death from this disease by 400%.
In the new study, researchers analyzed electronic health records and pharmacy data from 6,247 adults with heart failure. They found that more than half (52%) of patients in the poorest areas did not use their prescriptions. In the richest regions, the proportion of such patients was 40%. The results showed that neither access to transportation nor the density of pharmacies in an area played a significant role.
The data means there is an 11% lower risk of not receiving life-saving medicines compared to patients in the wealthiest areas. This finding is important because 5-10% differences in treatment adherence can lead to increased risk of death and increased inequality between the poor and the rich.
Co-author of the study, Dr. “These results support targeted interventions that have been proven to improve medication adherence, including patient education programs and frequent follow-up with healthcare providers for those living in areas at greatest risk,” said York Langone University. Saul Blecker.
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