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Adherence of patients to long-term medication: a cross-sectional study of antihypertensive regimens in Austria

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Summary

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence and causes for non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy in Austrian patients. A special focus was placed on social parameters and behavioural theories.

Methods

Patients were invited via advertisements in community pharmacies in Austria to complete an online survey. Inclusion criteria were an age of 18 years or older, a diagnosis of arterial hypertension and a current prescription of antihypertensive medication. Adherence was measured by the four-item Morisky scale. Non-adherence was defined by at least one point in the Morisky scale. Several demographic, social and behavioural parameters were analysed as potential co-variables associated with adherence.

Results

A total of 323 patients completed the online survey, of which 109 (33.7 %) met the criteria for non-adherence. In a multivariable model, self-efficacy and age were associated with adherence, whereas intention and barriers were linked to non-adherence; 56 patients (17.3 %) were classified as intentionally non-adherent.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that non-adherence affects an important proportion of patients in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Young age was a particularly important risk factor for non-adherence, and this patient population is, therefore, in need of special attention. Modifiable risk factors were identified that could help improving the treatment of arterial hypertension and potentially other chronic conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Felix Lötsch, Lorenz Auer-Hackenberg, Mirjam Groger, Khalid Rehman & Michael Ramharter DTM&H

  2. Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Felix Lötsch, Mirjam Groger & Michael Ramharter DTM&H

  3. School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK

    Valerie Morrison & Sahdia Parveen

  4. Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, UK

    Emily Holmes & Dyfrig Hughes

  5. Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Wendy Clyne

  6. University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Sabina de Geest & Fabienne Dobbels

  7. AARDEX Group Ltd., Liège, Belgium

    Bernard Vrijens

  8. Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Przemyslaw Kardas

  9. Centre for Health Economics & Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, UK

    Catrin Plumpton

Authors
  1. Felix Lötsch
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  2. Lorenz Auer-Hackenberg
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  3. Mirjam Groger
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  4. Khalid Rehman
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  5. Valerie Morrison
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  6. Emily Holmes
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  7. Sahdia Parveen
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  8. Catrin Plumpton
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  9. Wendy Clyne
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  10. Sabina de Geest
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  11. Fabienne Dobbels
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  12. Bernard Vrijens
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  13. Przemyslaw Kardas
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  14. Dyfrig Hughes
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  15. Michael Ramharter DTM&H
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Ramharter DTM&H.

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Lötsch, F., Auer-Hackenberg, L., Groger, M. et al. Adherence of patients to long-term medication: a cross-sectional study of antihypertensive regimens in Austria. Wien Klin Wochenschr 127, 379–384 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0782-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0782-y

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