Predictors of Non-Adherence to Medications in Hypertensive Patients

Aleksandra Nikolic; Sonja Djuric; Vladimir Biocanin; Katarina Djordjevic; Marko Ravic; Aleksandra Stojanovic; Olivera Milovanovic; Jasmina Skerlic; Radisa Pavlovic; Tamara Nikolic Turnic

doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12960

Predictors of Non-Adherence to Medications in Hypertensive Patients

Iran J Public Health. 2023 Jun;52(6):1181-1189. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12960.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Clinic for Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.
² Gentext Research group, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
³ Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bussines Academy, Novi Sad, Serbia.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.
⁵ Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Pristina, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia.
⁶ N.A. Semashko Public Health and Healthcare Department, F.F. Erismann Institute of Public Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation.

Abstract

Background: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is one of the leading causes for developing major cardiovascular events and still represents a major public health challenge worldwide. We aimed to provide data on predictors of poor adherence to medication in hypertensive patients in Serbia.

Methods: Observational, analytical study was undertaken at a group of 388 patients who refilled their medications in the Pharmacy Institution, "Apoteka Kragujevac", Kragujevac, Serbia between Jan and Mar 2019. Afterward, we conducted a case-control study to evaluate the influence of the variables associated with the adherence. We used a self-developed questionnaire and SF-36 to assess the influence of the quality of life on medication adherence.

Results: Results revealed four independent predictors of non-adherence: increased number of medications, living in a city, forgetfulness of the dosing regimen and low energy. The odds of non-adherence were the highest among the participants living in the city and the low energy was the only factor inversely associated with the level of non-adherence.

Conclusion: Many factors were associated with the non-adherence to medication. Further studies are needed to find the most appropriate protocol to promote adherence. The four risk factors (increased number of medications, living in a city, forgetfulness of the dosing regimen and low energy) are associated with non-adherence in adult hypertensive patients.

Keywords: Adherence; Hypertension; Questionnaire; Risk factors.