Adherence to treatment in outpatients with chronic heart failure

The aim of the study was to evaluate the adherence to treatment in outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the factors affecting the adherence. The study included 150 outpatients (mean age of 67.2 years) and 34 primary care physicians providing care to patients with CHF. Outpatients received consultations with cardiologist. Follow up examination of CHF outpatients was performed one year after the outpatient treatment. Over half of outpatients (51.3%) did not show compliance with the recommended treatment. A significant decrease in the frequency of use of ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and statins was found over one year. The study showed that poor medication compliance was associated with the severe memory disorders in CHF outpatients, problems with reimbursement of medicinal products, insufficient knowledge, and emotional burnout in primary care physicians.