[OP.6C.01] REAL-WORLD MEDICATION COMPLIANCE IN A SAMPLE OF PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT IN GREECE. (September 2016) - Kasiakogias, A.
Abstract : Objective: Adherence to treatment is a major factor that affects the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of treatment. Non-adherence is a highly prevalent situation, especially on chronically ill asymptomatic patients. In light of the above, the purpose of this study was to measure real-world compliance to treatment in a sample of hypertensive patients in Greece. Design and method: 202 consecutive patients diagnosed with hypertension, receiving antihypertensive medication and routinely followed (>1 year) in a specialized clinic of Hippokrateion Hospital (Athens) comprised the study population. A retrospective review of prescribing records was used to estimate compliance to treatment, the latter measured as the percentage of doses taken as prescribed during the observation period (number of doses the patient actually took divided by the number of doses the patient should have taken during a 365 day period). Factors of influence (age, sex, comorbidities, type of antihypertensive medication prescribed at baseline etc.) were also recorded. The observation period spanned from January 2014 to June 2015. Results: Mean compliance rate was 78.7%. No statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded between men and women. A statistically significant negative effect of age (−0.201) was documented in the univariate regression analysis. The presence of comorbidities did not appear to significantly influence the rate of compliance. Patients receiving a single-pill combination had a higher compliance rate compared to those under separately administered regimens (80.3% vs. 74.8%, significant at the 0.05 level). Receiving medications for comorbidities had a positive, although non-statistically significant impact on persistence rates (79.7% vs. 75.1%). Conclusions: Patients at a higher age, as well as those that are under a heavier daily pill count appear to be at a greater risk for non-adherence in the real-world setting. Interventions to improve adherence are vital, especially for resource-limited settings.