Canadian researchers say one out of four patients studied did not fill their prescriptions after being discharged from the hospital.
The study in the journal Circulation notes that taking medications such as aspirin, beta-blockers, statins and ACE inhibitors is a powerful way to prevent future heart attacks and death.
Older patients were the ones least likely to have prescriptions filled. Researchers also note that patients educated about the drugs while still in the hospital were more likely to get them filled.
