Treatment adherence in hypertensive patients - a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Epidemiological studies have indicated that the greatest challenge of hypertension is treatment adherence. This condition should be the primary focus of health care, particularly in chronic diseases/hypertension. The objectives of this study were to assess the treatment adherence among adults with hypertension in a Family Health Unit and characterise hypertensive patients of a Family Health Unit in Viseu, Portugal. Research Methods: In a cross-sectional study we assessed 106 patients (50.9% male), mean age 58.26 +/- 11.60 years and followed them up in the hypertension medical appointment in primary health care. We collected data through a questionnaire answered at the hypertension medical appointment, with questions about sociodemographic variables, Measure Treatment Adherence (MTA) scale and issues related to healthy lifestyle practices. Findings: On average the hypertensive patients had this disease for 8.68 +/- 9.8 years; higher among males (p<0.001) and 8.5% are not medicated. The majority of the hypertensive patients do not present treatment adherence (73.6% vs. 26.4%). In the total sample, 36.8% of hypertensive patients present poor treatment adherence; 17.0% moderate and 46.2% high adherence. Conclusion: We conclude that most hypertensive patients do not adhere properly to treatment, using the MTA scale. Studies are needed in order to understand the barriers to non-adherence in order to develop strategies to increase adherence. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.