[Analysis of studies published on hypertension treatment non-compliance in Spain between 1984 and 2005]

To analyse therapy non-compliance in hypertension treatment in Spain, after a review of studies published between 1984 and 2005.

Systematic review.

Data searches used Internet (Medline and Spanish index on doctoral these), a manual search of several Spanish journals, and bibliographic references to compliance from detected articles and through personal contact with experts. Descriptors used were: hypertension and patient compliance, compliance, adherence, patient drop-outs, treatment refusal, and their combinations.

Studies conducted in Spain and published between 1984 and 2005 were included, along with original articles, congress abstracts or doctoral theses, which used as a method of measurement pill count or counting of spaces in electronic monitoring systems, and which defined as non-compliers patients with a compliance percentage <80% and >110%.

The percentage of non-compliers was calculated, with 95% confidence intervals and weighted average of the percentage of non-compliers in each study.

Twenty-six research studies published in Spain, excluding 2 analytical studies, were found. A total of 3553 patients with hypertension were included, of which 32.53% were non-compliers (n= 1156; 95 CI, 29.83-35.23) and 67.47% were compliers (n=2397; 95% CI, 65.67-69.27). The weighted average of non-compliance was at 32.78%.

The percentage of therapy non-compliance in the treatment of hypertension in Spain has fallen in recent years, although it continues to be high.