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Do Patients With High Vascular Risk Take Antihypertensive Medication Correctly? Cumple-MEMS Study

Emilio Márquez-Contreras1, Mariano de la Figuera-Von Wichmann, Josep Franch-Nadal

  • 1Grupo de Trabajo sobre Cumplimiento e Inercia, Sociedad Española de HTA (SEH-LELHA), Madrid, Spain. emarquezc@papps.org

Revista Espanola De Cardiologia (English Ed.)
|April 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

High rates of noncompliance with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors were observed in high-risk hypertension patients. Noncompliance was linked to taking five or more daily pills, impacting treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Primary Care

Background:

  • Uncontrolled hypertension in high-risk patients requires effective treatment adherence.
  • Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers) are crucial for managing hypertension.
  • Assessing treatment compliance is vital for optimizing cardiovascular outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate treatment compliance with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and high cardiovascular risk.
  • To identify factors associated with noncompliance in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study in 102 Spanish primary care centers.
  • Inclusion of 808 patients with uncontrolled hypertension on renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and high cardiovascular risk.
  • Measurement of compliance using electronic monitors over 6 months with 4 visits.

Main Results:

  • 701 patients completed the study; significant reductions in systolic (18.8 mmHg) and diastolic (9.8 mmHg) blood pressure were observed.
  • The hypertension control rate was 70%, significantly higher in compliant patients.
  • Mean percentage compliance was 87.9%, with 73.3% overall compliers; noncompliance correlated with polypharmacy (≥5 drugs).

Conclusions:

  • Therapeutic noncompliance is a significant issue in high-risk hypertensive patients treated with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors.
  • The rate of noncompliance was notably high, particularly when patients were prescribed five or more daily medications.
  • Strategies to improve medication adherence are essential for better blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Abstract

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