Digital Outreach Lifts Statin Refills Across Ages

A large Kaiser Permanente Northern California trial found digital messages boosted short-term statin refill rates in adults of every age group.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Heart Disease

Isometric editorial illustration of amber medicine vessels on a matte surface beside a glowing pale-blue notification disc. — Kaiser Permanente trial found automated digital messages raised statin refill rates in adults of every age group. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The ADHERE-ASCVD trial randomized 20,604 adults within Kaiser Permanente Northern California to secure portal messages, SMS texts, standard email, or usual communication. Digital outreach improved short-term statin refill rates, and the benefit did not differ meaningfully by age.

Why it matters

Statin nonadherence leaves many patients with cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes without protection they have been prescribed. The findings suggest automated digital outreach may help nationwide health systems close refill gaps regardless of patient age.

Adjusted risk differences in 14-day statin refill rates were 1.4 percentage points for adults under 45, 2.4 points for ages 45-64, and 3.2 points for ages 65 and over, versus usual communication. Limited power at the age extremes leaves modest age-related differences unresolved.

The players

Kaiser Permanente Northern California

A regional integrated health system in which the pragmatic trial was embedded, drawing on its electronic patient portal and automated messaging infrastructure.

The details

Participants with ASCVD or type 2 diabetes and prior statin nonadherence were randomized 1:1:1:1 to secure portal messaging, SMS text messaging, standard nonsecure email, or usual communication. Patients without digital access who would otherwise have been eligible were older, with 20.8% aged 65 or over compared with 12.0% of the digitally connected population.

November 6, 2026: ADHERE-ASCVD analysis presented at AHA 2026 and published in JACC.

Health Landscape

The trial was run inside Kaiser Permanente Northern California's integrated system, using embedded portal and text tools rather than standalone research platforms. It adds evidence that everyday patient-engagement infrastructure can influence medication adherence in cardiovascular care.

Patients prescribed statins who miss refills may benefit from enrolling in secure portal or text reminders offered by their health system. The study suggests these tools work across ages, so older adults need not assume digital outreach is not for them.

The takeaway

Reliable statin use depends on consistent refills, and simple automated reminders can help people stay on track regardless of age. Patients who receive refill messages from their care team should consider responding promptly to maintain protection.