Long-Term Adherence and Persistence to Low-Dose Aspirin for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background and Aim. Adherence and persistence to low-dose aspirin are key to maximising its cardiovascular benefits in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or those at high CVD risk; however, few studies have provided population-based estimates of its long-term (>2–3 years) use. We aimed to determine long-term (up to 10 years) adherence and persistence to low-dose aspirin for primary/secondary prevention of CVD. Methods. Using information from electronic health records in Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) in a common data model, we followed adults with ≥2 low-dose aspirin prescriptions (75–100 mg) during 2007–2018 for up to 10 years. Included individuals had no low-dose aspirin prescriptions in the year before the follow-up started (date of first low-dose aspirin prescription) and ≥12 months’ observation. Adherence was determined using the medication possession ratio (MPR), and persistence was defined as continuous treatment disregarding gaps between prescriptions of