Prevalence and predictors of poor antihypertensive medication adherence in an urban health clinic setting

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2007 Mar;9(3):179-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2007.06372.x.

Abstract

Poor medication adherence may contribute to low hypertension control rates. In 2005, 295 hypertensive patients who reported taking antihypertensive medication were administered a telephone questionnaire including an 8-item scale assessing medication adherence. Overall, 35.6%, 36.0%, and 28.4% of patients were determined to have good, medium, and poor medication adherence, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, adults younger than 50 years and 51 to 60 years were 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-3.42) and 1.53 (95% CI, 0.64-3.66), respectively, times more likely to be less adherent when compared with their counterparts who were older than 60 years. Black adults and men were 4.30 (95% CI, 1.06-17.5) and 2.45 (95% CI, 1.04-5.78) times more likely to be less adherent, respectively. Additionally, caring for dependents, an initial diagnosis of hypertension within 10 years, being uncomfortable about asking the doctor questions, and wanting to spend more time with the doctor if possible were associated with poor medication adherence. The current study identified a set of risk factors for poor antihypertensive medication adherence in the urban setting.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Louisiana / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data*
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urban Population*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents