Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: December | Volume: 7 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 180-186
A Study on Adherence to Therapy among Hypertensives in Urban Slums of Hyderabad
Dr. Nazia Tabassum1, Dr. R.L. Lakshman Rao2
1Senior Resident, 2Professor and Head of the Department,
Community Medicine Department, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad
Corresponding Author: Dr. Nazia Tabassum
ABSTRACT
Background information: Chronic non-communicable diseases are posing a serious threat to public health throughout the world, irrespective of whether developed and developing, and thus deserve to be treated as a global health priority in this new millennium. Most common non-communicable diseases are Cardio-vascular diseases, for which uncontrolled hypertension is a risk factor, which is due to poor adherence to anti-hypertensive medication.
Aim: To study the prevalence of adherence to therapy among study population.
Materials & Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was done for One year from November 2015 to October 2016 in Harazpenta. The total sample size was 400 and cluster sampling technique was used. The study subjects were diagnosed Hypertensive subjects who were on treatment for more than 1year. Data entry was done using Microsoft Excel 2007 and analysis done using EPI INFO Version 7.2.1.0
Results: Out of 376 study participants, 232(61.70%) were highly adherent to their anti-hypertensive medication according to Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8.
Conclusions: More than half of the Hypertensive subjects showed good adherence patterns to their prescribed medications. The Health system should give priority to the low income families and provide free supply of all classes of antihypertensive medicines.
Key words: Adherence, Anti hypertensive medication.