Pattern of compliance to anti- hypertensive medications in hypertensive patients in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Non-adherence to anti-hypertensive medications can have a negative impact on long term cardiovascular outcome. Various studies have been conducted on this issue but factors are not yet explored properly, particularly in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to find out the prevalence and factors associated with pattern of compliance to anti-hypertensive medications in a tertiary level hospital.Methods: This descriptive study was done on 146 indoor hypertensive patients, included by purposive sampling in july’2015 who were taking anti-hypertensive for last 6 months. Data were collected through a questionnaire after obtaining informed consent.Results: This study revealed that 55.47% patients were compliant and 44.53% were noncompliant. Age >60 yrs. are more non-compliant (56.6%). Female (65.11%), house wife and urban population are more compliant. Population, with longer duration of hypertension are more non-compliant. Among the co-morbidities diabetic patients are more non-compliant. Population taking two anti-hypertensive are more compliant (76.47%).Conclusion: In our study most of the populations are compliant but yet significant number of populations are non-compliant. Collective participation of physician, patient and health care delivery system can improve the situation more. As consequence of non-compliance to antihypertensive is grave, community based studies should be conducted to explore the extent of non-compliance.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 24, No.1, April, 2015, Page 62-66