Evaluation of Adhesion to Pharmacological Treatment in Elderly with Systemic Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a chronic, asymptomatic and multifactorial disease, characterized by elevated and sustained pressure levels. SAH is the main risk factor for serious cardiovascular complications, such as acute myocardial infarction, chronic renal failure, stroke and heart failure. The objective of this study is to evaluate the adherence to the pharmacological treatment of systemic arterial hypertension in a pharmacy network in a city in the interior of Bahia. This is a descriptive and exploratory quantitative study, performed with 40 elderly patients with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in a network pharmacy in Vitória da Conquista, the pharmacy network has three establishments located in different locations in the city, thus covering several carrier profiles. As an instrument for evaluotioning adherence, a structured questionnaire was applied with socioeconomic variables, based on the adherence scales according to the Morisky and Green Test. The prevalence occurred in female representatives, who represented 52.5% of the total sample, the most important age group was among the elderly from 60 to 70 years old, by corresponding to 55% of the 40 hypertensive elderly interviewed, 45% have studied until the current fifth year. In reference to the monthly income of the family group, 65% of the interviewed affirmed that they receive from one to three minimum wages. According to the obtaining of the medicines, 33% of the participants purchase in public pharmacy, 35% in private network and 32% acquires in both parts. The approaching elements demonstrated the importance of implementing health care models that incorporate diverse individual and collective strategies in order to improve the quality of care and adherence to treatment.