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Current Situation of Medication Adherence in Hypertension
Bernard Vrijens1, Sotiris Antoniou2, Michel Burnier3
1WestRock HealthcareVisé, Belgium; Department of Public Health, University of LiègeLiège, Belgium.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|March 17, 2017
Summary
Poor adherence to hypertension treatments is a global issue, increasing cardiovascular risks. Simplifying medication regimens, like using single-pill combinations, can significantly improve patient adherence and blood pressure control.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Poor medication adherence is a persistent global challenge in chronic disease management.
- Antihypertensive therapy adherence issues are linked to higher risks of coronary and cerebrovascular events.
- Despite improved hypertension control trends, a constant number of patients remain above goal, incurring personal and economic costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present expert discussions on the current state of medication adherence in hypertension.
- To highlight challenges and potential solutions for improving adherence in hypertensive patients.
- To address the multifaceted nature of medication adherence, including initiation, implementation, and persistence.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and expert opinion on medication adherence measurement.
- Discussion of adherence barriers, including pill burden from complex antihypertensive regimens.
- Evaluation of strategies to improve adherence, such as single-pill fixed-dose combinations and medication re-packing.
Main Results:
- Medication adherence is a complex issue with distinct components: initiation, implementation, and persistence.
- Accurate adherence measurement involves methods like electronic monitoring and drug level assays.
- Simplifying medication regimens through single-pill combinations and re-packing shows promise for enhancing adherence.
Conclusions:
- Addressing medication adherence is crucial for improving outcomes in hypertension management.
- Strategies that reduce pill burden, such as fixed-dose combinations, are vital for enhancing patient adherence.
- Continued expert dialogue and implementation of adherence-improving strategies are necessary to overcome this global health problem.
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