[Assessment of adherence to antihypertensive therapy]
Paola Varleta, Carlos Akel, Mónica Acevedo, Claudia Salinas, Javier Pino, Viviana Opazo, Ana García, Carolina Echegoyen, Daniel Rodríguez, Lissette Gramusset, Sandra León, Pedro Cofré, Hilda Hernández, Patricia Neira, Raquel Retamal, Gloria Petit, Natalia Moya, Paola Varleta, Carlos Akel, Mónica Acevedo, Claudia Salinas, Javier Pino, Viviana Opazo, Ana García, Carolina Echegoyen, Daniel Rodríguez, Lissette Gramusset, Sandra León, Pedro Cofré, Hilda Hernández, Patricia Neira, Raquel Retamal, Gloria Petit, Natalia Moya
Abstract
Background: Lack of adherence with medications is the main cause of antihypertensive treatment failure.
Aim: To assess adherence to antihypertensive drugs and its determinants.
Material and methods: The Morinsky-Green questionnaire to determine treatment adherence was applied to 310 hypertensive patients from primary care centers, aged 60 ± 10 years (65% females) in treatment for 4 ± 1 months. Socio-demographic features, use of medications and quality of life using EQ5D questionnaire were also assessed.
Results: Twenty percent of patients were diabetic and 19% were smokers. Fifty four percent were adherent to therapy. A higher age and being unemployed were associated with a higher compliance. The main reasons to justify the lack of adherence were forgetting to take the pills in 67% and adverse effects in 10%. Only diastolic pressure was lower in adherent patients, compared with their non-adherent counterparts (78 ± 12 and 81 ± 17 mmHg, respectively p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Only half of hypertensive patients comply with their antihypertensive therapy.
Source: PubMed