European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:  Hypertension is becoming a major public health concern in low-income countries due to rising trend of prevalence in past years. Primary factors which lead to poor treatment outcome is the patient non-adherence to medicines. It is therefore, important to analyse the factor responsible for non-adherence to obtain better prognosis. Objective: The present study aimed to determine various sociodemographic and pharmacological factors which influence adherence to medicines in patients with systemic hypertension. Methods: Adherence to antihypertensive medications was measured by using therapeutic adherence scale for hypertensive patients (TASHP). Results: A significant association was observed between satisfactory drug adherence and lower pill burden (one pill/day) and combination drug therapy (1 pill with >2 drugs combination). Lower frequency of drug intake was associated with higher drug adherence though the association was not statistically significant (p=0.241). Presence of side effects was associated with statistically significant low drug adherence (p=0.001). Conclusions: Satisfactory compliance to antihypertensive therapy was associated with combination therapy and limited pill burden. Absence of side effects with antihypertensive medication and better blood pressure control were also associated with better drug compliance. Identifying these pharmacological factors would be of value for physicians in focusing strategies to enhance patient compliance to antihypertensive medication.