title: Cognitive impairment is associated with medication nonadherence in asymptomatic carotid stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adherence to medical management of vascular risk is vital for stroke prevention in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Because carotid disease is a risk factor for cognitive impairment, we sought to determine whether undiagnosed cognitive impairment affects medication adherence in this setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with asymptomatic ≥50% internal carotid artery stenosis without known dementia or stroke were screened for evidence of cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Medication adherence was monitored using electronic pharmacy prescription refills. Medications studied included antiplatelet agents, statins, antihypertensives, and diabetes medications. Nonadherence was defined as a refill lag of ≥3 months during the 12 months before cognitive screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty percent of patients (36/60) had evidence of cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment <26). Medication adherence was noted in 31% (11/36) of cognitively impaired patients and 88% (21/24) of patients without cognitive impairment (P < .0001). Antiplatelet therapy adherence was significantly lower among cognitively impaired patients compared with those without cognitive impairment (P = .009). A trend toward decreased adherence to statins (P = .09) and antihypertensives (P = .06) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication adherence in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis is significantly reduced among those with undiagnosed cognitive impairment. Cognitive screening of asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis identifies those who may benefit from increased supervision to improve medication adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City. Electronic address: akirkpat@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Angelia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Science Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman.
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guthery
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City; Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: Calin I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Prodan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: Carotid stenosis; Cognitive impairment; Medication adherence