Many older people don't take their prescribed dose of cholesterol lowering statins after a heart attack.
Researchers followed nearly 60,000 seniors hospitalized for a heart attack.
After two years only 42-percent were taking their prescribed statins as directed. 19-percent had completely stopped taking the medication.
Patients who went through cardiac rehabilitation were more likely to continue statin use. High intensity statins are recommended for all heart attack patients to prevent further damage to blood vessels and arteries.