An Assessment of Antihypertensive Medication Adherence among Hypertensive Patients Attending the Outpatient Clinics in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo.

Abstract

Context: Hypertension is a global cause of significant morbidity, ranking top as a cause of increased disability-adjusted life years. Patients who do not take their prescribed medication show almost a fourfold increase in the risk of dying from stroke by the second year after being prescribed treatment and a nearly threefold increased risk in the 10^th year when compared to patients who take their prescribed medication. Medication adherence is a key factor in the control of high blood pressure.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the antihypertensive medication adherence rate of patients attending the outpatient clinics at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) and to explore factors that affect their adherence to the medications.

Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of adult hypertensive patients attending the outpatient clinics at UUTH, from May to July 2018, who had been placed on antihypertensive medication(s) for at least 6 months. A standardized Morisky Medication Adherence 8 Questionnaire for assessing medication adherence was modified and used for the data collection. The questionnaires were administered by trained interviewers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.

Results: A total of 379 hypertensive patients took part in the study; 85.2% were adherent to antihypertensive medication(s), but only 14.2% showed good adherence. Four of the five dimensions considered in the Morisky Assessment greatly affected antihypertensive medication adherence. The mean age of the study participants was 60.8 ± 1.8 years, and 75% were male.

Conclusion: Good adherence to antihypertensive medication was quite low in this study population, and it was affected by all dimensions of the Morisky Assessment; health-care providers should pay more attention to their patient's drug adherence, educate them on medication adherence, and get them involved in their care.