Adherence to Treatment in Hypertension

Abstract

The lack of adherence to treatment in hypertension affects approximately 30 % of patients. The elderly, those with several co-morbidities, social isolation, low incomes or depressive symptoms are the most vulnerable to this problem. There is no ideal method to quantify the adherence to the treatment. Indirect methods are recommended in clinical practice. Any intervention strategy should not blame the patient and try a collaborative approach. It is recommended to involve the patient in decision-making. The clinical interview style must be patient-centered including motivational techniques. The improvement strategies that showed greater effectiveness in the compliance of hypertension treatment were: treatment simplification, appointment reminders systems, blood pressure self-monitoring, organizational improvements and nurse and pharmacists care. The combination of different interventions are recommended against isolated interventions.

Treatment Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: A Cross Sectional Study from Southeast of Iran

“…HTAS was used in the present study to evaluate treatment adherence and accordingly, more than one third of patients were poor adherent. Villalva et al and He et al found about 30% -35% of patient with hypertension had low adherence to treatment, which is consistence with our study (3,23).…”

“…Along with access to effective and inexpensive medicines, increasing patients' awareness toward the importance of adherence to medications, and healthy behaviors is essential in controlling the disease and reducing its complications (1)(2)(3). Despite being aware of this fact, poor adherence to antihypertensive treatment has been a global challenge and its prevalence varies from 10% to more than 60% in different regions (4)(5)(6).…”

Assessment and treatment of resistant hypertension

“…Strategies that have shown greatest effectiveness in improving adherence to hypertension treatment include: treatment simplification, appointment reminder systems, blood pressure self‐monitoring, organisational improvements, and nurse and pharmacist care. A combination of different interventions is recommended rather than isolated interventions …”

Exploring a New Natural Treating Agent for Primary Hypertension: Recent Findings and Forthcoming Perspectives

“…The clinical foci of hypertension treatment comprise ameliorating blood pressure and preventing complications. Generally speaking, by using a blood pressure lowering approach, medication is the first choice, while the management life style gives constructive support in enhancing adherence [3,16]. Numerous agents, e.g., verapamil, amlodipine, and captopril, have been applied in the treatment of hypertension; the antihypertensive effects of these drugs have been well established [3,17].…”

“…Beyond medication, patients and clinicians propose a variety of supports from pharmaceuticals, society, family, and patient’s personal pharmacogenomics for managing hypertension. Social isolation, low income, depression, or psychological distress have been ascertained as causes of withdrawal during treatment [3,16,18,19]. Statistical analyses from the investigation of African American women, Latino migrants, seasonal farmworkers, Chinese people, and people from south-west Nigeria have illustrated that social supports could promote patient adherence to treatment via sharing information and assisting in bringing about life style changes [20,21,22,23].…”