Objectives To examine associations between statin adherence and lipid target achievement in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors, and their associations with mortality and recurrent MIs.Design Retrospective cohort study using linked clinical records within the National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) Data Safe Haven.Setting Routine clinical practice in the NHS GGC area between January 2009 and July 2017.Participants Patients ≥18 years who experienced a non-fatal MI hospital admission (ICD10: I21, I22) between January 2009 and July 2014 (n=11 031), followed up from the date of MI admission until July 2017 or death, whichever occurred first.Primary and secondary outcome measures Statin adherence was estimated using encashed prescriptions and lipid results from routine biochemistry data. Primary lipid and statin adherence targets were LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L and adherence ≥50%, and were related to all-cause death, deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (ICD10: I00–I99 as the underlying cause), and recurrent MI in unadjusted models and models adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic deprivation and year of MI.Results Over 4.5 years follow-up, 76% achieved LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L, and 84.5% had average adherence ≥50%. Patients with adherence <50% had an increased risk of not meeting LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L, in adjusted models (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.78 to 2.31, p<0.0001). In univariable models, not meeting LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.39, p<0.0001) and CVD mortality (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.51, p=0.0013). Adherence <50% was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.74, p<0.0001) and CVD mortality (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.88, p<0.0001). Adjustment for confounders did not abrogate these associations. Neither exposure was associated with recurrent MIs.Conclusions Non-achievement of lipid and adherence targets are associated with increased risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Further work is required to optimise their use to improve outcomes in clinical practice.