title: Being well-informed about statin is associated with continuous adherence and reaching targets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins are life saving drugs in cardiovascular practice. However, they still are underprescribed in many situations despite their well-established benefits. Adherence may be improved by increased comprehension of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients enrolled into a previous survey were randomized into two groups as those, who were informed comprehensively (Group 1) and those not (Group 2). 202 patients, all of whom were on secondary prevention, were contacted after median 15 months of follow up and evaluated whether they continued the statins, and reached targets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  102 out of 202 patients were those enrolled into Group 1, and 100 of them were those enrolled into Group 2. In Group 1, 62.7% of patients were on continuous statin therapy during period between initial and secondary contact, whereas, only 46% of patients in Group 2 were on continuous statin therapy (p = 0.017). Being well-informed about statin increased the likelihood of being on continuous statin therapy after median of 15 months by 1.977 folds. Concerning targets, 64.7% of those in Group 1 reached the targets, whereas, 43% of those in Group 2 reached the targets (p = 0.002). Being well-informed about statin increased the likelihood of having suggested targets by ATP III after median of 15 months by 2.430 folds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing patients with comprehensive knowledge about statins, even in patients, who were already on statin therapy, seems not only to improve adherence but also increase the percentage of those reaching targets.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Gülhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. cardioceptor@ttnet.net.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet Birhan
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinar
authors.forename: Ilkin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naharci
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirkan
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baysan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokusoglu
authors.forename: Kursad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erinc
authors.forename: Izzet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tandogan
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isik
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors