Medication adherence among patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension

What is it about?

This review examined the extent of medication non-adherence among patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH). Approximately one-third of patients (31.2%) were non-adherent to their anti-hypertensive medications. Direct measures of adherence (e.g., assays of bodily fluids) yielded higher non-adherence estimates relative to indirect measures (e.g., patient self-report). Lower non-adherence estimates were seen in studies that took place in primary care compared to studies in specialist hypertension clinics.

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Why is it important?

Patients who do not adhere to prescribed regimens cannot experience the benefits of these treatments. This review indicates that anti-hypertensive non-adherence is common, and that study-level variables such as how adherence is measured can influence results. This highlights the importance of adequately assessing adherence prior to treatment escalation and/or referral to specialist clinics.