The relationship of treatment adherence to the risk of death after myocardial infarction in women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between adherence to a medical regimen and mortality following a myocardial infarction in women.


METHODS
Analysis of the female cohort entered into a randomized double-blind multicenter trial.


METHODS
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial.


METHODS
The 602 women, aged 30 to 69 years, enrolled in the beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial.


METHODS
Random assignment to propranolol hydrochloride or placebo 5 to 21 days following a myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Adherence for each patient was calculated as the mean of all quarterly adherence estimates during the course of the trial (median follow-up, 26 months). Adherence was classified as good (taking > or = 75% of medication) or poor (taking < 75% of medication). The end point was death from all causes occurring at any time during the trial, adjusted for treatment category and other clinical and sociodemographic features.


RESULTS
Adherence data were available on 505 women, of whom 32 (6.3%) died. Death occurred in 13.6% of poor adherers compared with 5.6% of good adherers (relative risk, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 5.6). The effect of adherence on mortality remained undiminished after adjustment for treatment category (propranolol or placebo), age, severity of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, smoking history, marital status, educational level, and race (adjusted relative risk of death for poor adherers, 2.5 to 3.0; P < or = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The independent effect of adherence on mortality following a myocardial infarction in women is clinically substantial, statistically significant, and similar in magnitude to that reported earlier for men.
Gallagher
E J
EJ
Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
Viscoli
C M
CM
Horwitz
R I
RI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011433:Propranolol