Adherence to anti hypertensive treatment: a critical factor for blood pressure control

Background To compare rates of blood pressure (BP) control with the level of adherence to anti hypertensive treatment and factors influencing compliance in Greek patients. Design An observational cross-sectional study on 1000 consecutively treated hypertensive patients, admitted to a University department of general surgery in a Greek hospital. Methods Patients were interviewed by the same doctor using pre-coded questionnaires with questions on demographic data, health and treatment status. Blood pressure was measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Treatment of hypertension was defined as current use of anti hypertensive medication. Compliance was defined as an affirmative reply to a number of questions regarding regular use of antihypertensive medication according to the physician’s instructions. Results Satisfactory BID control (levels < 140/90mmHg) was documented in only 20% of the treated hypertensives. Compliance to anti hypertensive treatment was found in only 15% of the patients. Control of BP was positively associated with compliance. Compliance was more common among patients aged < 60, city dwellers, the better educated, those more adequately counselled by their physicians and those followed by a private doctor. As regards treatment, compliance was better among those taking one anti hypertensive tablet per day, those who had never changed their anti hypertensive regimen and those who had never changed their doctor. Conclusions Compliance is associated with more effective BP control. Physicians can enhance patient compliance and hypertension control by devoting more time to counselling, avoiding unnecessary changes in drug regimens and restricting the tablet numbers. (c) 2005 The European Society of Cardiology

The influence of health systems on hypertension awareness, treatment, and control: a systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HT) affects an estimated one billion people worldwide, nearly three-quarters of whom live in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). In both developed and developing countries, only a minority of individuals with HT are adequately treated. The reasons are many but, as with other chronic diseases, they include weaknesses in health systems. We conducted a systematic review of the influence of national or regional health systems on HT awareness, treatment, and control. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Eligible studies were those that analyzed the impact of health systems arrangements at the regional or national level on HT awareness, treatment, control, or antihypertensive medication adherence. The following databases were searched on 13th May 2013: Medline, Embase, Global Health, LILACS, Africa-Wide Information, IMSEAR, IMEMR, and WPRIM. There were no date or language restrictions. Two authors independently assessed papers for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. A narrative synthesis of the findings was conducted. Meta-analysis was not conducted due to substantial methodological heterogeneity in included studies. 53 studies were included, 11 of which were carried out in LMICs. Most studies evaluated health system financing and only four evaluated the effect of either human, physical, social, or intellectual resources on HT outcomes. Reduced medication co-payments were associated with improved HT control and treatment adherence, mainly evaluated in US settings. On balance, health insurance coverage was associated with improved outcomes of HT care in US settings. Having a routine place of care or physician was associated with improved HT care. CONCLUSIONS: This review supports the minimization of medication co-payments in health insurance plans, and although studies were largely conducted in the US, the principle is likely to apply more generally. Studies that identify and analyze complexities and links between health systems arrangements and their effects on HT management are required, particularly in LMICs. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

Fatores associados à não-adesão ao tratamento com anti-hipertensivos em pessoas atendidas em unidades de saúde da família Risk factors associated with non-adherence to anti-hypertensive medication among patients treated in family health care facilities

Para estimar a prevalência e analisar fatores associados à não-adesão ao tratamento de pessoas com hipertensão arterial sistêmica, atendidas em unidades de saúde da família, procedeu-se a estudo transversal com 595 pacientes. A variável dependente não-adesão foi medida com questionário (Questionário de Adesão a Medicamentos - QAM-Q). Foram coletadas variáveis sócio-econômicas, assistenciais, pessoais e do tratamento, analisadas por modelo de regressão logística hierarquizado. A prevalência de não-adesão foi de 53%. As variáveis associadas à não-adesão foram: (1) sócio-econômicas _ pertencer às classes econômicas C/D/E, estar inserido no mercado de trabalho, em ocupações não qualificadas; (2) assistenciais _ precisar comprar os medicamentos e mais que 6 meses desde a última consulta, e; (3) características das pessoas e do tratamento _ interromper previamente o tratamento, estar em tratamento há menos de 3 anos e presença de transtorno mental comum. O estudo dos determinantes da não-adesão articulados em um modelo hierarquizado sugere que as desigualdades sociais se mostram diretamente associadas à não-adesão, ou mediadas por fatores dos serviços e das pessoas.<br>In order to estimate the prevalence of treatment non-adherence and associated factors among individuals with systemic arterial hypertension treated at family health care facilities, a cross-sectional study was performed with 595 patients. The dependent variable non-adherence was measured with a Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ). A hierarchical logistic regression model was used to analyze socioeconomic, health care-related, personal, and treatment-related variables. Prevalence of non-adherence was 53%. Variables associated with non-adherence were: (1) socioeconomic _ belonging to economic classes C, D, or E; work market participation in unskilled labor; (2) health care _ out-of-pocket payment for medication; more than six months since last physician consultation; and (3) personal and treatment characteristics _ previous interruption of treatment; being on treatment for less than three years; and presence of a common mental disorder. The study of determinants of non-adherence articulated in a hierarchical model suggests that social inequalities are either directly associated with non-adherence or mediated by personal and health services factors

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure in a Swiss city general population: the CoLaus study.

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to assess the prevalence of awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure (HBP) and associated factors in a Swiss city. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study of 6182 participants (52.5% women) aged 35-75 years living in Lausanne, Switzerland. METHODS: HBP was defined as blood pressure &gt;/=140/90 mmHg or current antihypertensive medication. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HBP was 36% (95% confidence interval: 35-38%). Among participants with HBP, 63% were aware of it. Among participants aware of HBP, 78% were treated, and among those treated, 48% were controlled (BP &lt;140/90 mmHg). In multivariate analysis, HBP prevalence was associated with older age, male sex, low educational level, high alcohol intake, awareness of diabetes or dyslipidaemia, obesity and parental history of myocardial infarction. HBP awareness was associated with older age, female sex, awareness of diabetes or dyslipidaemia, obesity and parental history of myocardial infarction. HBP control was associated with younger age, higher educational level and no alcohol intake. Alone or in combination, sartans were the most often prescribed antihypertensive medication category (41%), followed by diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. Only 31% of participants treated for HBP were taking &gt;/=2 antihypertensive medications. CONCLUSION: Although more than half of all participants with HBP were aware and more than three-quarters of them received a pharmacological treatment, less than half of those treated were adequately controlled