title: Adherence to common cardiovascular medications in patients with schizophrenia vs. patients without psychiatric illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to examine whether individuals with diagnoses of schizophrenia were differentially adherent to their statin or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) medications compared to individuals without psychiatric illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using electronic medical record data across 13 Mental Health Research Network sites, individuals with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder receiving two or more medication dispensings of a statin or an ACEI/ARB in 2011 (N=710) were identified and matched on age, sex and Medicare status to controls with no documented mental illness and two or more medication dispensings of a statin in 2011 (N=710). Medication adherence, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the study population were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariable models indicated that having a schizophrenia diagnosis was associated with increased odds of statin medication adherence; the odds ratio suggested a small effect. After adjustment for medication regimen, schizophrenia no longer showed an association with statin adherence. Having a schizophrenia diagnosis was not associated with ACEI/ARB medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to patients without any psychiatric illness, individuals with schizophrenia were marginally more likely to be adherent to their statin medications. Given that patterns of adherence to cardioprotective medications may be different from patterns of adherence to antipsychotic medications, improving adherence to the former may require unique intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Georgia State University, Georgia; Kaiser Permanente, Georgia. Electronic address: aowensmith@gsu.edu.
authors.forename: Ashli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owen-Smith
authors.affiliation: Group Health Cooperative.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente, Northwest.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Health System.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ahmedani
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Beth E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Waitzfelder
authors.affiliation: Health Partners.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossom
authors.affiliation: Baylor Scott and White Health.
authors.forename: Laurel A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.affiliation: Group Health Cooperative.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Cardiovascular medications; Medication adherence; Schizophrenia; Serious mental illness