Residents in communities facing higher poverty and unemployment show lower adherence to prescribed heart failure medications, a finding highlighted by researchers from New York University in a study published in JAMA Network Open. Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart muscle loses the power to pump blood effectively. Earlier research has shown that a four-drug regimen can reduce mortality risk from this disease by a substantial margin, underscoring the importance of consistent treatment.
In the latest analysis, investigators reviewed electronic health records and pharmacy data from 6,247 adults living with heart failure. The results revealed that more than half of patients in the lowest income areas did not take their prescribed medicines as directed. In contrast, 40 percent of patients in the wealthier regions did not adhere to their prescriptions. The study found that limited transportation access or a high density of pharmacies in a given area did not explain these adherence gaps.
The researchers quantified the impact by noting that nonadherence was about 11 percent less likely among patients in wealthier areas compared with those in poorer regions. This difference matters because research suggests that even small disparities in medication adherence, typically around five to ten percent, can raise the risk of death and widen health inequities between the rich and the poor. The findings point to the ongoing need to address social determinants of health that influence whether people receive life-saving treatments.
Co-authors emphasized that the results support targeted interventions known to improve medication use. They pointed to patient education programs and regular follow-up with health care providers as effective strategies for people living in high-risk areas. The study from York Langone University highlights the role of sustained contact with clinicians and tailored support in helping patients stay on essential heart failure therapies.
Additional context from earlier research indicates that lifestyle factors can influence vascular risk. For instance, studies have linked late dinners to higher stroke risk, illustrating the broader connection between everyday habits and cardiovascular outcomes. Taken together, these findings reinforce the importance of comprehensive care that combines medication management with lifestyle guidance to reduce the overall burden of heart disease in diverse populations.