Non-use of primary care routine consultations for individuals with hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Public Health
• Hypertension Management
• Healthcare Access

Background:

• Routine medical appointments are crucial for managing hypertension.
• Non-adherence to appointments can lead to adverse health outcomes.
• Understanding sociodemographic factors influencing appointment attendance is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sociodemographic factors associated with non-use of routine primary care appointments among hypertensive individuals.
• To determine if non-use of consultations impacts pharmacotherapy compliance, blood pressure control, and hospitalization rates.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with random and stratified sampling.
• Interviewed 422 individuals with hypertension in Maringá, Paraná.
• Used logistic regression for crude and adjusted analyses, calculating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

• 11.1% of individuals did not attend routine appointments in the six months prior.
• Male sex, nonwhite ethnicity, and reliance on public health services were associated with non-attendance.
• Most non-attendees showed poor pharmacotherapy compliance and uncontrolled blood pressure.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers should prioritize strategies to increase appointment attendance among hypertensive men, nonwhite individuals, and public health service users.
• Enhanced appointment adherence can improve blood pressure management and reduce complications.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address disparities in healthcare access for hypertension management.