Age as a major factor affecting adherence to medication for hypertension in a general practice population
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1Kupat Holim Clinic, Rosh Haayin, Israel.
Insights
Patient age significantly impacts hypertension medication adherence. Younger (under 55) and older (over 65) adults showed lower adherence rates compared to those aged 55-64 in a general practice audit.
Area of Science:
- General Practice and Primary Care
- Cardiovascular Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Hypertension management requires consistent medication adherence for effective blood pressure control.
- Previous adherence studies often focus on hospital or clinical trial populations, potentially limiting generalizability.
- Understanding adherence factors in unselected general practice populations is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit medication adherence in a general practice setting for patients with hypertension.
- To identify patient characteristics associated with non-adherence to prescribed hypertension medication.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective audit of 246 patients prescribed hypertension medication in a general practice.
- Analysis of medication collection records to identify non-adherence (failure to collect monthly supply).
- Comparison of demographic and clinical factors (sex, age, hypertension severity, medication type/complexity) between adherers and non-adherers.
Main Results:
- 51 out of 246 patients (approximately 20.7%) did not collect their monthly hypertension medication supply.
- No significant differences in adherence were found based on sex, hypertension severity, or medication characteristics.
- Patient age was the sole significant factor associated with adherence; adherence was lower in patients <55 and >65 years compared to those aged 55-64.
Conclusions:
- Age-related differences in hypertension medication adherence may be specific to unselected general practice populations.
- Targeted health promotion strategies focusing on younger and older adult age groups may improve adherence.
- Findings highlight the need for age-specific interventions in community-based hypertension management programs.
Abstract:
An audit of the treatment of hypertension in a general practice revealed that 51 out of 246 patients prescribed medication did not collect their monthly supply of drugs. There were no significant differences between the adherers and the non-adherers in sex, severity of hypertension, type or complexity of medication. The patient's age was the only factor which was associated with adherence. Patients under the age of 55 years or over 65 years had significantly lower adherence than those aged 55-64 years. Most previous studies coming from hospital-based or clinical trial populations have failed to demonstrate this association with age which may be characteristic of an unselected general practice population. The results may not be applicable to populations of different social or cultural background but they suggest appropriate directions for health promotion efforts in our community.