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Asking one question about adherence just once can predict hospitalisation and mortality over the next year in heart failure patients.

Researchers asked 592 heart failure patients: “Over the past seven days, how many times did you miss a dose of any of your heart medications?” Seventy-two per cent reported not missing any doses. Of those who were non-adherent, 49 per cent missed one dose in the last week, 38 per cent missed two or three and the remainder missed at least four.

During the next year, patients who adhered fully were 32 per cent less likely to be hospitalised for any cause or die (0.71 and 0.86 events respectively) and 36 per cent less likely to be hospitalised for heart failure (0.28 and 0.33 events respectively) than those who were non-adherent, after adjusting for confounders.

Although a single question predicts adherence, the authors emphasise that clinicians should still assess adherence regularly.