Nationwide dispensing of cardioprotective medications during the first year following acute coronary syndrome (ANZACS-QI 56).

Aim: A number of evidence-based medications are recommended following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including statins, antithrombotics (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulants), a beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ACE-I/ARB). This study aimed to describe the dispensing of the cardioprotective medications in the first year following an ACS hospitalisation in New Zealand and how this varies according to age, sex and type of coronary intervention.

Method: National hospitalisation data was used to identify all New Zealand residents aged 35-79 years who were discharged from hospital in the years 2013/14 with a primary discharge diagnosis of ACS. Using anonymous linkage to national pharmaceutical dispensing and mortality datasets, the dispensing of each group of medications was examined in survivors of quarters one, two and four of the first year post discharge.

Results: There were 14,496 patients; mean age was 63.4 years and 68.8% were male. Dispensing of medications in survivors steadily fell across quarters one, two and four: 90.8%, 82.1% and 78.8% of patients were dispensed statins; 90.6%, 79.8% and 78.1% were dispensed aspirin; 82.7%, 72.6% and 70.0% were dispensed beta-blockers; 69.6%, 62.7% and 61.3% were dispensed ACE-I/ARB; 67.7%, 53.6% and 40.4% were dispensed a P2Y12 inhibitor; and 68.6%, 53.0% and 40.7% were dispensed a combination of two or more antithrombotics.

Conclusion: Cardioprotective medication dispensing was lower than would have been the case if the current ACS guidelines were followed. The greatest decrease in dispensing occurred between quarter one and quarter two, which highlights a potentially important period for targeted interventions to improve adherence.