Acceptance of Illness and Compliance with Therapeutic Recommendations in Patients with Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Psychosocial Medicine

Background:

• Arterial hypertension (AH) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease globally and in Poland, posing significant health, economic, and social challenges.
• Complications and treatment costs associated with AH underscore its importance as a public health issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate illness acceptance and adherence to therapeutic recommendations among patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension.
• To identify factors influencing illness acceptance and medication adherence in hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 200 outpatient patients with AH (85 men, 115 women, mean age 49.1 ± 11.6).
• Utilized standardized instruments: Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8).
• Employed author-designed questionnaires for sociodemographic and comorbidity data collection.

Main Results:

• Illness acceptance was higher in men than women, decreased with age, and negatively correlated with antihypertensive therapy duration.
• Illness acceptance was not influenced by comorbidities or sociodemographic factors like residence or professional activity.
• Medication adherence increased with education level but did not correlate with the Acceptance of Illness Scale score.
• Men exhibited lower adherence and compliance compared to women.
• Overall, patients demonstrated a moderate level of adherence and compliance.

Conclusions:

• Hypertensive patients generally exhibit good illness acceptance, but adherence to treatment recommendations is moderate.
• Targeted educational interventions, support, and enhanced patient-physician cooperation are crucial for improving treatment adherence in AH management.
• Gender differences in adherence necessitate tailored approaches in patient care for arterial hypertension.