Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8, 2505-2515; doi:10.3390/ijerph8062505 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Relationship between Medication Use and Cardiovascular Disease Health Outcomes in the Jackson Heart Study Clifton C. Addison 1,*, Brenda W. Jenkins 1, Daniel Sarpong 2, Gregory Wilson 2, Cora Champion 3, Jeraline Sims 3 and Monique S. White 1 1 Jackson Heart Study/Project Health, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite 701, Jackson, MS 39213, USA; E-Mails: brenda.w.campbell@jsums.edu (B.W.J.); mswhite427@yahoo.com (M.S.W.) 2 Jackson Heart Study, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite 701, Jackson, MS 39213, USA; E-Mails: dannys107@yahoo.com (D.S.); gregory.wilson@jsums.edu (G.W.) 3 Jackson Heart Study, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite 701, Jackson, MS 39213, USA; E-Mails: cchampion@umc.edu (C.C.); jsims@umc.edu (J.S.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: clifton.addison@jsums.edu; Tel.: +1-601-979-8732; Fax: +1-601-979-8701. Received: 24 November 2010; in revised form: 13 January 2011 / Accepted: 13 January 2011 / Published: 23 June 2011 Abstract: Even though some medications have the potential to slow the progress of atherosclerosis and development of CVD, there are many at-risk individuals who continue to resist the benefits that are available by not following the advice of medical professionals. Non-adherence to prescribed drug regimens is a pervasive medical problem that negatively affects treatment outcomes. Information from standardized interviews of 5301 African Americans participating in the Jackson Heart Study was examined to determine the association between demographic parameters, behavior including adherence to prescribed medical regimens, and health outcomes. Data were also collected at Annual Follow-Up and Surveillance visits. During the two weeks prior to the examination visit, almost 52% of the participants reported taking blood pressure medication, 14% took cholesterol medication, 16% took medication for diabetes, and 19% took blood thinning medication. Of those who did not take the prescribed medications, the reasons given were the following: 47% were in a hurry, too busy, or forgot to take medications; 23% were trying to do without medications; 18% had no money to purchase medications; 19% indicated that the