Defining Meaningful Change in Antihypertensive Medication Adherence in Adults with Established Hypertension: Implications for Clinical Practice

Abstract

Uncontrolled hypertension and low antihypertensive medication adherence remain significant clinical challenges. There is a critical need to detect meaningful change in adherence in clinical settings. The authors determined that a ≥2-point change in the 4-item Krousel-Wood Medication Adherence Scale score represents meaningful change in antihypertensive medication adherence. Among a sample of participants in an ongoing clinical trial, 5.9% experienced a decline in adherence, which was associated with higher blood pressure (BP) and a higher prevalence of uncontrolled BP at 6months. Meaningful change in medication adherence behavior may be key in managing hypertension to improve BP control and health outcomes.