The role of non-drug methods of increasing adherence to the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension in a polyclinic

Abstract

Introduction. Arterial hypertension (AH) is one of the important high-risk factors for the development of heart diseases, but its diagnosis and treatment does not require high technologies and substantial costs. However, the asymptomatic course of AH combined with a low level of medical literacy contributes to low adherence to treatment.Aim. To study the indirect impact of remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM), the introduction of educational materials (EMs) in comparison with self-monitoring of blood pressure (SMBP) on adherence of patients with AH to outpatient treatment.Materials and methods. 60 subjects with an established fact of partial or complete refusal to use antihypertensive therapy were enrolled in the study and randomized into four equal and comparable groups: 1 – SMBP, 2 – RBPM, 3 – SMBP + EMs, 4 – RBPM + EMs. The impact of using RBPM was assessed by comparing blood pressure values in groups 1 and 2; the impact of EM – by comparing the results of questionnaire surveys in groups 1 and 2 and groups 3 and 4.Results and discussion. Additional training of patients with AH contributed to a twofold increase in adherence in using SCAD and RBPM. The average systolic blood pressure in groups 1 and 2 was 134 mm Hg, in groups 3 and 4 – 129 mm Hg; diastolic blood pressure in groups 1 and 2 – 78.5 mm Hg, in groups 3 and 4 – 77.5 mm Hg.Conclusion. The maximum impact on adherence to AH treatment can be achieved with the introduction of a set of measures. However, the introduction of RBPM has a number of limitations associated with the additional economic burden and the lack of an approved methodology. However, the provision of treatment and prevention facilities with EMs does not require additional development of methodology and is significantly cheaper than the cost of modern blood pressure monitors.