Medication nonadherence among hypertension patients

Abstract

Optimal effect of medical treatment requires patients' adherence to those treatments, which plays a even greater role than the medical decision made by physicians. With the epidemiological dynamic evolving, chronic disease becomes the major burden of healthcare, such as AIDS, hypertension, COPD, tuberculosis, asthma, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression and diabetes, which make the adherence especially medication adherence a sightworthy issue because the risk of poor adherence with the complexity and duration of treatment with both of them are inherent to chronic diseases. Among patients with hypertension, medication nonadherence contributes to poorly controlled blood pressure as an significant yet unrecognized role. With the mediator of negative outcomes of further development of vascular disorders, including stroke, heart failure, renal insufficiency and coronary diseases, medication nonadherence to antihypertensives become the root of all devil in terms of healthcare.

In terms of healthcare utilization, it costs approximately 396 to 792 million dollars per year and creates a significant burden. Effect factors for medication nonadherence among hypertension patients include knowledge about hypertension, beliefs about hypertension, perceived beliefs about medication, inadequate self-management behaviors, physician-patient relationship, social support and healthcare policy. The achievements of current single level interventions are not satisfactory, therefore multiple level interventions are calling for attention.Everyone in the healthcare system are responsible to alter the situation. A comprehensive healthcare system that consummates all the effect factors is the effective and efficient solution.