Abstract P258: Antihypertensive Medication Nonadherence Among Hispanic Adults by Healthcare Access and Acculturation Characteristics - Estilos Survey, 2015

Abstract

Medication adherence for hypertensive adults (HTNs) is an important factor in achieving and maintaining blood pressure control, as it has been associated with better health outcomes and lower costs of medical care. We assessed the differences in the prevalence of self-reported antihypertensive medication use and adherence among Hispanic HTNs by selected characteristics. Methods: ESTILOS is an online panel for health survey data of Hispanic adults in the USA. In 2015, 1,000 adults completed the survey with a response rate of 29%. The resulting data were weighted using 8 factors: gender, age, household income, household size, education, census region, country of origin, and acculturation (based on years living in the USA, language spoken at home, cultural self-identification, and use of Spanish language). The differences among characteristics for prevalence ± standard error of medication use and adherence were compared by using χ 2 statistics. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 27.5±2.7%. The prevalence of antihypertensive medication use in HTNs was 67.9±4.6%) overall and was higher among those ≥55 years of age (95.2±2.1%; P =<0.0001), retirees (92.3±4.0%; P =0.0002), who had healthcare coverage (72.5±4.8%; P =0.02) and had a primary care physician (PCP) (71.9±4.9%; P =0.03), did not have any reported cost barriers to seeing their PCP within past 12 months (71.9±5.3%; P =0.001), and took 3-4 lifestyle actions (79.7±5.4%; P =0.015) than <3 lifestyle actions). Among HTNs taking antihypertensives, 24.0±7.0% reported missing or skipping medication doses. HTNs aged <55 years or who could not see a PCP within the past year due to cost barriers, were more likely to miss or skip doses of antihypertensive medication (<55=54.1±13.4%) vs >55=11.5±5.3%; P =0.03 and could not see PCP=45.2±12.1% vs 12.0±5.2%; 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Poor antihypertensive medication adherence among Hispanics with hypertension was associated with younger age groups and those who reported barriers to engaging with a PCP. Public health practitioners and clinicians can utilize this information to support their programs and can tailor strategies for improved outcomes.