Study finds SNAP benefits may improve medication adherence among food-insecure individuals

By Dr. Liji Thomas, MDFeb 26 2024Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM A recent study published in JAMA network evaluated whether receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can modify the consequences of food insecurity on nonadherence to antihypertensive medications.

People with high blood pressure are at risk for multiple health conditions, both chronic and acute. These include uncontrolled blood pressure, cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack, and an increased risk of death. One of the modifiable factors for medication compliance is food insecurity, as people will prioritize food above medication if funds are limited.

Therefore, The current study sought to understand its role in improving adherence to BP medications. The research aimed to assess whether the reduction in food insecurity with SNAP reflected in better adherence to antihypertensive medication. About 15% of the participants said they were food insecure during the past month, compared to over 40% of those who received SNAP benefits. In contrast, only 11% of non-recipients were food insecure.

When stratified by food insecurity, BP medication non-adherence was eight percentage points lower among those who used SNAP benefits than among non-users.

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