Therapeutic adherence in hypertensive patients of the Internal Medicine office at the Hospital de Clínicas

Abstract

Introduction: Adherence to the treatment of arterial hypertension constitutes one of the main factors for obtaining a good control of blood pressure and the reduction of chronic complications that it conditions. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine therapeutic adherence in hypertensive patients who attend the Outpatient Clinic of the Medical Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas of the National University of Asunción. Materials and methods: observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design. Adult patients with a diagnosis of hypertension who attended the outpatient clinic of the Clínica Médica del Hospital de Clínicas in October 2019 were included. The Morisky questionnaire of adherence to medication of eight items (MMAS-8) was applied. to assess therapeutic compliance and sociodemographic data were collected. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 80 subjects were included, the mean age was 56.4 ± 12.6 years, 56 (70%) were women. More than half had high therapeutic adherence (56.25%). A similar level of adherence was found in both sexes (57.14% in women and 54.17% in men). Patients in the range of 18 to 40 years were those with the highest compliance (62.5%). The majority came from the Metropolitan Area (71%). The predominant occupation was that of housework (51.25%). Most of the population had some degree of academic training (85%). Greater adherence was found in patients with hypertension of less than 5 years of evolution (65%), single (66%) and in patients who received a daily dose of the medication (68.75%). Conclusion: more than half of hypertensive patients have good therapeutic adherence. Greater adherence was found in single patients, under 40 years of age, with some degree of academic training, with hypertension of less than 5 years of evolution and treated with single doses of drugs.