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[Black Africans' compliance to antihypertensive treatment]
1Institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire).
Insights
Hypertension treatment compliance is poor in sub-Saharan Africa due to numerous factors, often linked to poverty. This study highlights challenges in adhering to medication regimens in this region.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacoeconomics
Background:
- Hypertension prevalence is rising in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Adherence to treatment presents significant challenges in this region.
- Understanding patient compliance is crucial for effective hypertension management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess drug therapy compliance among hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
- To identify patient characteristics associated with poor treatment adherence.
Main Methods:
- A one-month study was conducted at the Abidjan Heart Institute.
- 200 hypertensive patients from sub-Saharan Africa participated.
- Compliance was measured using the Compliance Evaluation Test of Girerd.
Main Results:
- 87.5% of patients experienced difficulties adhering to treatment.
- Poor compliance was linked to low income, lack of insurance, and complex drug regimens.
- Factors like unemployment, being female, and using herbal remedies also correlated with poor adherence.
Conclusions:
- Antihypertensive treatment compliance is alarmingly low in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Poverty and socioeconomic factors are major contributors to poor adherence.
- Addressing these socioeconomic determinants is vital for improving hypertension control.
Unlabelled:
Hypertension is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. It is difficult to follow a correct treatment in this environment.
Purpose:
Assessing the compliance of the drug therapy and identifying the characteristics of poor observant patients.
Methods:
A study was carried out over one month at the outpatient department of the Abidjan Heart Institute among 200 sub-Saharan African hypertensives. Their compliance was estimated with the Compliance Evaluation Test of Girerd.
Results:
The average age of the patients was 59 years and 59.5% of them were women. Most patients (60%) had a monthly pay lower than 100,000 CFA (Euros 152). Sixty two percent had no medical insurance. So 175 patients (87.5%) had difficulties to follow their treatment. Among them 55% had a very bad compliance and 32.5% had minor difficulties. Only 12.5% of them had a right compliance. A bad compliance was frequent between 30 and 70 years, in women (60.5%), in unemployed patients (93.7%), in married women (68.7%) and in executives (50%). Other factors of a poor compliance was a monthly income lower than 100,000 FCFA (64%), a number of daily tablets higher than three (77.3%), a number of daily administration >or= $ 3 (95.7%) and the high cost of drugs. A bad compliance is more frequent when herbal treatment is associated with medical drugs or used separately.
Conclusion:
The compliance of the antihypertensive treatment was poor. The causes are numerous, but they are very often related with the growing poverty in the black society.
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