OBJECTIVE: To synthesize current evidence on medication adherence rates and associated risk factors in patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted. Five electronic databases and article bibliographies were searched for publications from 1990 to 2013 which assessed adherence to secondary prevention pharmacotherapy in adults after hospital discharge for an ACS. Identified studies were screened using pre-defined criteria for eligibility. A standardized form was used for data abstraction. Methodological quality was assessed using modified criteria for quantitative studies.

RESULTS: Sixteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Post-discharge medication adherence rates at 1-year ranged between 54% and 86%. There were no consistent predictors of non-adherence across all cardiac medication classes examined.

CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to secondary prevention pharmacotherapy was suboptimal in patients after hospital discharge for an ACS. Risk factors associated with non-adherence were examined in a limited number of studies, and the associations varied between these investigations.