Impact of awareness about hypertension on compliance to antihypertensive medication

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONHypertension (defined as: systolic B.P.>=130mm Hg; diastolic B.P.>=80mm Hg) is a condition in which arterial B.P. is chronically elevated.1 It is the commonest cardiovascular disorder, posing a major public health challenge, a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and accounts for 20-50% of all deaths. 2 Raised blood pressure is responsible for 60% of strokes and 50% of coronary ABSTRACT Background: Hypertension, a common cardiovascular disorder accounts for 20-50% of all deaths. This risk can be greatly ameliorated by creating awareness about disease and its effective treatment alongside regular medical check-ups. Therapeutic failures result from patient non-compliance, manifested as intentional or unintentional errors in dosage or schedule, overuse or underuse of prescribed drugs and early termination of therapy. Adherence is helpful for management of hypertension and cost minimization. Non-adherence to the drug treatment is an important factor for uncontrolled hypertension and its complications. Methods: Patients were interviewed individually after taking informed consent, using pretested, predesigned, self-administered and closed ended questionnaire both before and 4 weeks after creating awareness about hypertension and its complications. Compliance measured by self-reporting in which knowledge of the patient about number of antihypertensive drugs being used, formulations of drugs, frequency of administration, duration of taking the drugs and knowledge of complications due to uncontrolled and untreated hypertension were assigned 1 score each. Patient having score of at least 4 out of total 5 was considered compliant. Results: No significant association of compliance with demographic and other variables like age, sex, marital status, economic status, education, urbanization, duration of treatment and drug procurement were noted. A significant increase in compliance in patients on antihypertensive medication was found 4 weeks after creating awareness about hypertension and its complication. A significant increase in compliance scores was also seen in non-compliant patients showing their shifting from non-compliance to compliance group. Overall compliance increased from 59.38% to 84.38%. A percentage decrease from 58.82% to 25% in patients having uncontrolled hypertension was also observed after the awareness about hypertension. Conclusions: Demographic variables, duration of hypertension and drug procurement have no significant effect on compliance to antihypertensive medication. There is persistence and improvement in compliance to antihypertensive medications after an education of the patients about hypertension and its complications.

Frequency and predictors of compliance among patients taking antihypertensive medicines

“…Awareness about the disease and treatment is likely to make patient more compliant and this was noted in the present study also. 21 Treatment complexity is another aspect leading to poor compliance. More the number of medicines to be taken daily and more the adverse effects less is the compliance.…”

Nonadherence to Self-Care Practices, Antihypertensive Medications, and Associated Factors among Hypertensive Patients in a Follow-up Clinic at Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…A long-term adherence to antihypertensive medication has verified the importance [ 22 ]. Furthermore, compliance with antihypertensive medications was found to be improved after providing education about hypertension and its related complications [ 23 ]. Counseling hypertensive individuals towards adherence to medication and the public with suitable information about hypertension management would improve the patient's level of adherence [ 24 ].…”