Prevalence and determinants of adherence to statin therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Adherence to statin therapy remains suboptimal and is significantly influenced by demographic and clinical factors.
Study context
- Population
- Adults prescribed lipid-lowering therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention, on statin monotherapy
- Participants
- 5,898,141 adults76 studies
- Outcome
- Prevalence of good adherence to statin therapy (≥80% medication use)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects
- Random-effects
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Good adherence (≥80% medication use), pooled prevalence · median follow-up 24 months
Pooled prevalence of good adherence
62.4%
95% CI 58.3–66.5%
Further pooled results
Good adherence by prevention setting
- Primary prevention
- 57.5%
- Secondary prevention
- 64.4%
Factors associated with lower adherence
- Female sex, RR
- 0.92
- Black race, RR
- 0.66
- Smoking, RR
- 0.94
- Depression, RR
- 0.89
- HF, RR
- 0.96
Factors associated with higher adherence
- Older adults, RR
- 1.34
- MI, RR
- 1.28
- Hypertension, RR
- 1.12
- ≥2 comorbidities, RR
- 1.25
- Polypharmacy, RR
- 1.32
Subgroup and sensitivity analyses
- Consistent results
Original publication
Prevalence and determinants of adherence to statin therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 16 December 2025. doi:10.
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