Therapeutic non-adherence: A risk factor for cardiometabolism diseases?
For patients, staying on track with their prescribed treatment plan is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious complications and support long-term cardiovascular health. Yet non-adherence remains a major contributor to poor outcomes across cardiovascular and metabolic chronic conditions.
Someone is considered “non-adherent” if they comply with less than 80% of their prescribed treatment plan.2
Between 50 and 80% of people with hypertension stop their treatment within the first year. World Adherence Day exists to change that. When patients, clinicians, nurses, pharmacists and advocates speak with one voice and push for a concrete plan, things move. What we are building is something this space has not seen before: genuine coordination across every part of the chain so that everyone gets and follows the treatment their heart deserves.
On the occasion of World Adherence Day this March 27, 2026, Servier is supporting the World Heart Federation’s campaign. This campaign, primarily shared on social media, aims to encourage dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals, promote a better understanding of treatments, and support shared decision-making.
Tackling treatment adherence head-on
Adherence to treatment plans for chronic conditions has become a key issue in the health care sector. As the leading pharmaceutical group in hypertension and fifth in cardiology3, we firmly believe that treatment adherence is key to treating patients and improving their care. Resolving the adherence issue constitutes an unmet medical need4 and this is why Servier places particular emphasis on three key areas:
Politico, an international political news media, has partnered with Servier to launch a series of exclusive interviews that shed light on this complex topic and offer innovative solutions.
World Adherence Day 2026: Taking action worldwide
In Italy, our teams are actively working to establish therapeutic adherence as a public health priority through two major initiatives. Servier Italy, in partnership with the Italian Heart Foundation (FIPC), has launched the second edition of the “Aderire per Vincere” contest. This initiative highlights the essential role of patient advocacy groups in driving public health impact by promoting treatment adherence. The contest recognizes the most effective awareness campaigns conducted between April 2024 and November 2025, focusing on the fight against cardiovascular diseases — the leading cause of death in Italy5. Winners will be selected through a combination of technical jury evaluation and public voting, with the final announcement scheduled for March 2026.
The second initiative by Servier Italy is being conducted in partnership with Fondazione Pubblicità Progresso. The national campaign “Take your health to heart” (Prendi a cuore la tua salute) aims to raise awareness of the vital importance of therapeutic adherence in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, through a commercial broadcast by the main national television and radio stations. Learn more about the Italian-language campaign.
In Spain, the “Strategic Alliance for Vascular Health” (Alianza Estratégica para la Salud Vascular) project led by Servier teams brought together nine stakeholders, including health care professionals, policymakers, and patients. The objective is to improve the comprehensive care of patients living with chronic vascular conditions. The proposals selected following several collaborative work sessions have been formalized in a document released this March 27 on the occasion of World Adherence Day.
In Latin America, the “RELAIS-CV” report, authored by 43 regional experts with the support of Servier Brazil, analyzes the critical impact of therapeutic non-adherence and clinical inertia on public health. Its key recommendation is the official recognition of therapeutic non-adherence as a major cardiovascular risk factor, alongside smoking and hypertension. This document proposes new political and digital strategies to transform patient care and reduce the mortality linked to poor adherence to prescriptions.
In Türkiye, within the scope of the “Türkiye 50% by 2030 Vision,” brought to life through the support of Servier and the collaboration of 14 medical societies, a meaningful event is held this March 27 in recognition of World Adherence Day. During the event, two leading medical societies will provide public education on treatment adherence, and blood pressure measurements will be conducted. With the participation of approximately 200 attendees, this initiative aims to raise awareness at a national level.
[1] Adherence to Long-Term Therapies: Evidence for action. World Health Organization 2003
[2] Médecine des Maladies Métaboliques, 2012, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1957255712703577
[3] IQVIA, Analytics Link / World 84 countries – MAT Q3-2025
[4] Cardiovascular UMN blog, efpia.eu
[5] Rapporto OsMed 2024