ADHERENCIA A LA TERAPÉUTICA FARMACOLÓGICA EN PACIENTES CON HIPERTENSIÓN ARTERIAL

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of adherence to medication therapy among hypertensive patients and describe the associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed by application of Batalla’s test and direct observation of hypertensive patients who attended to El Valle Health Sub-Centre. Medication adherence and its association were studied in relation to sex, age, marital status, schooling level, therapy duration, type of medication, dose, number of drugs, schedule of drug administration, collateral effects, medication availability and social support. RESULTS: 151 patients were studied, 58.94% of them were women, 49% had age under 73 years, 56.9% had been in drug therapy for 7 years or less, 64.9% had a steady partner and 84.1% had basic schooling or worse. Global adherence to medication was 63.6%. Age between 45 and 72 years (PR=0.54; 95%-CI=0.35 – 0.86; P=0.01) showed benefit and results from Batalla’s test as non-compliant patient sets up a risk factor for developing low adherence (PR=2.94; 95%-IC=1.65 – 5.24; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Medication adherence was higher than expected. Age between 45 and 72 years showed benefit. Patients with no-steady partner, primary schooling or lower, multidose regimen, polypharmacy, inadequate treatment, presence of adverse effects, insufficient family support or those who do not assist to chronic patient’s club have risk of lower adherence rates.