Factors Affecting Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication in Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Various studies showed that nearly half of hypertensive patients had poor drug adherence. Many factors affect medication adherence, such as disease awareness, health knowledge, and healthy behavior. Factors affecting adherence to medications were studied. The expectation was that disease awareness could lead to good medication adherence.
Objective: This study was conducted to determine factors affecting medication adherence in older patients who cannot reach targeted blood pressure.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study to assess medication adherence in older patients undergoing hypertensive treatment. Adherence was measured using a validated survey form for medication adherence consisting of seven questions.
Results: One hundred and twenty participants with an average age of 70.51, mean blood pressure 150/94 mmHg, were enrolled.  Sixty percent of patients were poor adherers. Patients with caregivers were found to be more likely to be good adherers, compared to self-care patients (odds ratio 2.71 [95% [CI]: (1.21-6.09)]. Patients with medication awareness were likely to adhere (odds ratio 2.75 [95% [CI]: (1.07-7.05)]. The feeling of difficulty travel to hospital and medication side effects were found to decrease adherence, odds ratio 2.54 [95% [CI]: (1.12-5.76)], 2.56 [95% [CI]: (1.18-5.57)] respectively.
Conclusion: Feeling of difficulty traveling to a hospital and medication side effects caused by the drug should be of concern for the best care. Close monitoring and follow-up care are considered to be important for all groups of patients regardless of their socioeconomic characteristics. Patient education and psychological support are essential ways to improve the patient's medication adherence.