Abstract

Low adherence to pharmacological treatment in patients diagnosed with hypertension is related to poor blood pressure control and an increased incidence of cardiovascular complications and deaths A cross-sectional study was performed to determine conditioning factors towards adherence Questionnaires and clinical evaluations were applied to 187 patients attending three first-level health units in 130 of them laboratory tests were carried out Diagnostic criteria were based on the European Clinical Practice Guidelines adherence was based on the Morinsky test 57 1 of patients had blood pressure values above the controlled threshold and 71 1 reported non-adherence to pharmacological prescription Factors associated whit low adherence were coexisting moderate to severe depression OR 2 054 CI 1 064 - 3 964 low educational level 3 75 3 05 years poor understanding of medical prescriptions OR 2 3 CI 1 188 - 4 477 irregular supply and limited economic access to prescribed drugs OR 1 97 CI 1 08 - 3 817 and low satisfaction with the care offered at health services OR 2 45 CI 1 202-5 00