Continuity of care and medication adherence in patients with angina: a retrospective cohort study using Koreas National Health Insurance data

Background
Angina, a major manifestation of ischaemic heart disease, affects 3–7% of adults and is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity. As an ambulatory care-sensitive condition, its outcomes can be improved through proactive outpatient management. However, the real-world impact of continuity of care (COC) and medication adherence, measured by the medication possession ratio (MPR)—on angina complications in South Korea remains poorly understood.

Objective
This study evaluated the effectiveness of COC and MPR in patients with angina using comprehensive national data and examined the outcomes at the hospital level.

Methods
This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea between 2002 and 2019. We identified 11 127 patients aged >30 years newly diagnosed with angina, applying strict exclusion criteria to ensure cohort validity. COC was categorised as high (COC index=1.0) or low (

Read More