Cardiovascular medication utilization and adherence in rural and urban patients

• Author / Creator

  Murphy, Gaetanne K

• Rural residents face numerous barriers to health care access that have been postulated to result in decreased utilization and adherence to evidence-based medications. The objectives of this research were to examine cardiovascular medication use and adherence for rural versus urban patients with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, which were accomplished through a systematic review of published studies and a retrospective cohort study of incident heart failure patients in Alberta. The systematic review included 51 studies and found no consistent rural-urban differences in medication usage patterns. Rural residents with heart failure were less likely to receive evidence-based medications, specifically renin angiotensin system (RAS) agents or beta blockers, but exhibited similar adherence compared to their urban counterparts. Importantly, adherence with heart failure therapy was suboptimal for rural and urban patients leading to an increased risk of mortality. This research suggests that interventions to promote optimal cardiovascular medication utilization and adherence are needed.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Rural population
  • Medication adherence
  • Urban population
  • Drug utilization
  • Cardiovascular diseases

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3C670

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.