NCDs represent a major challenge for public health systems in Europe, where they
cause
90% of all
deaths.9 Cardiovascular disease is the leading NCD in EuropeEvery
Every year in the EU, more than 6 million new cases of cardiovascular disease are diagnosed and over 1.7 million people die from diseases of the circulatory system10,11
These costs will increase each year under the triple threats of demographic changes, lifestyle factors, and climate change (the combined effects of extreme heat and air pollution are documented factors in acute cardiovascular events).12,13
Non-Adherence representes a major challenge for the treatment of CVD
Non-adherence to cardiovascular disease mediciation has been estimated to be higher than 60%23
Nearly one in four patients is partially or completely non-adherent to their treatment following a hospital dischage.24
Adherence to treatment could make a real contribution to improving patient outcomes and saving resources.
of patients do not properly adhere to their cardiovascular disease medications, according to analysis of nearly 2 million patients.25
of all cardiovascular disease events in Europe could be attributed to poor adherence to vascular medications, and that the level of optimal adherence confers a significant inverse association with subsequent adverse outcomes.26
of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease may be due to poor adherence.27
Healthcare system/health team barriers
Condition-related factors
Therapy-related barriers
Patient-related factors
Socio-economic factors
Helping patients to adhere more closely to their treatment could save almost 200,000 lives every year in Europe and reduce costs to healthcare systems and society by €125 billion. The consequences of non-adherence are serious, compromising the effectiveness of treatment and, in the most extreme cases, leading to death and inefficient use of healthcare resources.
We want to address the challenge of non-adherence by promoting concrete solutions that can be implemented. To that end, we have come together in a multistakeholder, collaboration and produced this report outlining policy solutions to improve adherence. We call on policymakers to seize this opportunity to support implementation through policy actions that can improve the lives of patients and support our healthcare systems.
Download the official report
References :
9 - WHO (2021) Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe.
https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2021-4479-44242-6249410 -Timmis et al., 2022
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/beating-cardiovascular
disease#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20most%20common,2022%3B%20WHO%2C%202022).
10 -Timmis et al., 2022 https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/beating-cardiovascular
disease#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20most%20common,2022%3B%20WHO%2C%202022).
11 - WHO, 2022, Global Health Observatory, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
(https://www.who.int/data/gho).
12 - EFPIA (2022). Chronic diseases: sustainable solutions for europe powering up chronic disease management
13 - Peters Annette (2021), Cardiovascular risks of climate change.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7649889/
23 - Kravitz RL, Hays RD, Sherbourne CD, et al. (1993) Recall of recommendations and adherence to advice among
patients with chronic medical conditions. Arch Intern Med. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1993.00410160029002.
24 - Jackevicius Cynthia A, Li P, Tu JV. (2008) Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of primary non-adherence
after acute myocardial infarction. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.706820.25 - Laufs, Ulrich, Rettig-Ewen, Volker,
Bo, Michael. (2011) Strategies to improve drug adherence. European Hearth Journal.
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq297
25 - Laufs, Ulrich, Rettig-Ewen, Volker, Bo, Michael. (2011) Strategies to improve drug adherence. European Hearth
Journal. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq297
26 - Rajiv Chowdhury et al. (2013) Adherence to cardiovascular therapy: a meta-analysis of prevalence and clinical
consequences. Eur Heart J doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/eht295. Epub 2013 Aug 1.
27 - Chen Chen, MD (Adherence with cardiovascular medications and the outcomes in patients with coronary arterial
disease: “Real‐world” evidence. Clin Cardiol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9748759/