Factors Influencing Adherence to Treatment and Quality of Life for a Group of Patients with Essential Hypertension in Romania

Abstract

Purpose Romania has a high prevalence of hypertension (45.1% in 2016). Whether this is attributable to a low rate of treatment adherence—which can aggravate the pathology and reduce patients’ quality of life (QoL)—is unknown. To address this point, the present study investigated the factors that influence short- and long-term adherence and QoL in patients with arterial hypertension using a specially designed questionnaire. Patients and Methods The study enrolled 289 patients at different stages of hypertension with or without comorbidities. The diagnosis of hypertension was established by the cardiologist, and treatment regimens were communicated by patients to the clinical pharmacist who administered the questionnaire, which comprised 7 domains with variable numbers of items. Results The majority of surveyed patients (57.43%) considered that their capacity for effort was decreased because of their hypertension, with 65.05% reporting that they were affected by symptoms associated with high blood pressure (eg, headache and dizziness). Most patients (71.28%) understood the consequences of discontinuing their medication and the severe complications of hypertension, and 69.55% indicated that they would not stop treatment if they experienced side effects. For 53.28% of patients, social activity was significantly affected by their condition. Only 47.05% of patients underwent regular mandatory medical examinations and 55.36% periodically monitored their blood pressure at home. A regression analysis revealed correlations between specific questionnaire items and patient characteristics. Conclusion Nonpharmacologic factors that were shown to influence patients’ adherence to treatment and QoL included the level of health education and knowledge of disease complications, self-monitoring of hypertension, and consultation with medical and pharmaceutical healthcare providers regarding hypertension and its treatment.

Experience of suffering in patients with hypertension: a qualitative analysis of in-depth interview of patients in a university hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea

“…17 18 A recent survey reported that patients with hypertension’s social activity was significantly affected by the symptoms or medication side effects and suggested that symptoms and concern about complications can have unfavourable influence on not only the mental, but also the social domain of quality of life. 19 However, it was uncertain what kind of social activity was affected in this study because the information of questionnaire was not adequately provided. Further qualitative study is warranted to specify the social dimension of patients’ illness experiences.…”

“…Though hypertension has never been viewed as a disease associated with stigmatisation, it remains to be seen considering that patients cannot be assumed to be free of suffering just because their diseases are asymptomatic and controllable, as in the case with HIV disease 17 18. A recent survey reported that patients with hypertension’s social activity was significantly affected by the symptoms or medication side effects and suggested that symptoms and concern about complications can have unfavourable influence on not only the mental, but also the social domain of quality of life 19. However, it was uncertain what kind of social activity was affected in this study because the information of questionnaire was not adequately provided.…”

Predictors of adherence to treatment in cardiovascular patients based on social adequacy

“…Adherence to treatment, which is the extent to which a person performs behaviors such as taking medication, following a diet, or implementing changes in lifestyle according to the recommendations provided by healthcare personnel [16], is a complex behavioral process that is in uenced by many factors such as the patient's psychological state, social support, healthcare system, and individual and psychological characteristics. It is also affected by other factors such as the type of disease, lifestyle, demographics, self-e cacy, informational motivation, insu cient knowledge about the disease and unfavorable relations with the treatment staff, negative drug attitude, and worry [17][18][19][20], as some studies have reported that chronic patients adhere to treatment regimens by 20-60% [9].…”