Adherence to antihypertensive drug treatment in Argentina: a multicenter study.Adherence to antihypertensive drugs in Argentina.

Adherence to antihypertensive medication is an important challenge that doctors often face in the treatment of hypertension. Good adherence is crucial to prevent cardiovascular complications. In consequence, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of adherence to antihypertensive treatment and identifying associated clinical variables. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 cities of Argentina. A systematic sampling was performed in order to select patients with hypertension and under pharmacological treatment for at least 6 months. Physicians took three BP measurements, and the level of adherence was assessed using the self-administered Morisky questionnaire (MMAS-8). Participants were classified into three levels of adherence: high adherence—MMAS score of 8; medium adherence—MMAS scores of 6 to <8; and low adherence—MMAS scores of <6. A total of 1111 individuals (62 ± 12 years old, women 49.4%) were included in the present analysis; 159 (14.3%), 329 (29.6%) and 623 (56.1%) patients had low, medium, and high adherence, respectively. The prevalence of controlled hypertension increased only in high adherent patients: 42.8%, 42.2%, and 64.5% for low, medium, and high adherence groups, respectively. Similarly, systolic BP was lower only in the high adherence group. High educational level (OR 3.47, 95% CI 2.68-4.49) and diuretic treatment (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.88) were independent predictors of high adherence. In conclusion, more than a half of treated hypertensive patients had a high level of adherence. These patients had lower BP values and higher control levels. A high educational level predicts high adherence.Fil: Espeche, Walter. Hospital San Martin de la Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Martin. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Hospital San Martin de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Sabio, Rodrigo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Alberto Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Leiva Sisnieguez, Carlos Enrique. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Hospital San Martin de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Olano, Daniel. Hospital San Martin de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Balbin, Eduardo. Hospital San Martin de la Plata; ArgentinaFil: Renna, Nicolas Federico. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Grosse, Pedro. No especifíca;Fil: Flores, Roberto A.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas.; ArgentinaFil: Lagos, Ana C.. No especifíca;Fil: Ferrero, Pablo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Poppe, Silvia. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Risso Patron, Facundo. No especifíca;Fil: Sotnieczuk Stasiuk, Victor D.. No especifíca;Fil: Valentini, Elina. No especifíca;Fil: Cardozo, Jose Ricardo. Hospital Justo Pereyra Aristóbulo del Valle; ArgentinaFil: Romano, Jose R.. Hospital de Formosa; ArgentinaFil: Parodi, Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Carbajal, Horacio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin