Incident prescriptions for common cardiovascular medications: comparison of recent versus pre-2020 medication adherence and discontinuation in three universal health care systems.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Health system disruptions since onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have adversely impacted adherence to medications for common cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

We examined adherence to and discontinuation of incident prescriptions for medications treating hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation in Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, Canada. We compared the recent period (April 1, 2020 through most recently available follow-up: September 30, 2021 for Ontario; March 31, 2021 for Alberta; and March 31, 2022 for Nova Scotia) to the baseline, pre-pandemic period (April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2019). In each province, people aged ≥66 years with a valid health number and corresponding incident prescription were included. For each medication cla

SUBMITTER: McNaughton CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11796216 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature