Antihypertensive Medication Compliance: A Comparison between Brazilian Men and Women

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Medication compliance is a challenge for patients and health professionals. The aim of this work was to compare the degree of antihypertensive medication compliance between Brazilian men and women. Methods: From March to May 2009, we conducted a non-experimental, comparative study, which analysed a sample of 80 patients diagnosed with HTN who were undergoing medical treatment and had been admitted to a hospital in the state of Sao Paulo. Results: Most patients in the sample were women (66.2%), white (81.2%), married (55%), and with a lower educational level (80%). Their mean age was 62 years (SD= 14.1). Approximately forty-nine percent (49.1%) of the women and thirty-seven percent (37%) of the men from the sample complied with the treatment (p=0.307), however differences were observed in the individual compliance-related behaviours. Conclusions: Although this study did not show a statistically significant association between genders in relation to medication compliance, gender differences in compliance-related behaviours deserves attention. Therefore, we suggest that additional studies focusing on gender-difference be conducted so that individualized interventions can be developed.