The Adherence Crisis: Inside a Cardiologist’s Reality

A prescription only works if it’s taken. Yet in cardiovascular care, consistency is often the weakest link. In this episode, cardiologist Dr Mario Fritsch, one of Brazil’s leading voices in heart health, Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the Biomedical Center at UERJ and former President of the Brazilian Society of Hypertension, takes us inside the adherence crisis shaping cardiovascular care. Drawing on decades of clinical and academic experience, he shares what really happens when heart medication is missed, delayed or quietly stopped.We unpack the real reasons patients fall off track, from psychology to everyday pressure, and explore what actually changes behaviour. From stronger doctor–patient relationships to smarter digital tools that support tracking, reminders and accountability between visits, this is a conversation about moving beyond blame and building systems that make consistency easier, and heart care safer.Follow us:LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Elfie⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠Elfie.en⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠Elfie Global