Missed blood pressure medication doses may erase cardiovascular protection
Adherence appears important for the protective effects of blood pressure medication. In an analysis of more than 91,000 people, participants who consistently took their medication experienced an 11% reduction in major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
By contrast, those who missed too many doses showed little or no measurable cardiovascular benefit. The findings suggest that maintaining a consistent medication schedule may be essential for realizing its protective effects, although the article does not describe other aspects of the analysis or establish whether missed doses directly caused the difference.