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. 2021 Jan-Feb;34(1):123-131.
doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200262.

Perceptions of Patients with Primary Nonadherence to Statin Medications

Derjung M Tarn  1 , Maureen Barrientos  1 , Mark J Pletcher  1 , Keith Cox  1 , Jon Turner  1 , Alicia Fernandez  1 , Janice B Schwartz  1
Affiliations

Perceptions of Patients with Primary Nonadherence to Statin Medications

Derjung M Tarn et al. J Am Board Fam Med. 2021 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: Despite emphasis on efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), 13% to 34% of people never fill a prescribed statin (primary nonadherence). This study determined perceptions of adults with primary nonadherence to statins.

Methods: Ten focus groups were conducted with 61 adults reporting primary nonadherence to statins (93% without known CVD). Participants were recruited from an academic medical center and nationwide Internet advertisements.

Results: Major themes related to primary nonadherence were 1) desire to pursue alternatives before starting a statin (eg, diet and/or exercise, dietary supplements), 2) worry about risks and adverse effects of statins, 3) perceptions of good personal health (suggesting that a statin was not needed), and 4) doubt about the benefits of statins in the absence of disease. Additional themes included mistrust of the pharmaceutical industry, mistrust of prescribing providers, inadequate provider communication about statins, and negative prior experiences with medication. Although rare, a few patients said that high cholesterol does not require treatment if it is genetic. One third noted during focus group discussions that they did not communicate their decision not to take a statin to providers.

Conclusions: Adults with primary nonadherence to statins describe seeking alternatives, avoiding perceived risks of statins, poor acceptance/understanding of CVD risk estimates, and doubts about the benefits of statins. Many do not disclose their decisions to providers, thus highlighting the need for provider awareness of the potential for primary nonadherence at the point of prescribing, and the need for future work to develop strategies to identify patients with potential primary nonadherence.

Keywords: Cardiovascular Diseases; Focus Groups; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemias; Medication Adherence; Qualitative Research; Statins.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: JBS presented at a National Institutes of Aging advisory workshop on statins, is on advisory boards for Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer for unrelated work, and has received grant funding from Future Diagnostics for vitamin D research. MB, MJP, KC, JT, AF have nothing to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Framework describing major categories of information patients consider when newly prescribed a statin medication
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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