Abstract
Background
Some of the greatest barriers to achieving blood pressure control are perceived to
be failure to prescribe antihypertensive medication and lack of adherence to medication
prescriptions.
Methods
Self-reported data from 6017 Canadians with diagnosed hypertension who responded to
the 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey and the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic
Diseases in Canada were examined.
Results
The majority (82%) of individuals with diagnosed hypertension reported using antihypertensive
medications. The main reasons for not taking medications were either that they were
not prescribed (42%) or that blood pressure had been controlled without medications
(45%). Of those not taking antihypertensive medications in 2008 (n = 963), 18% had
started antihypertensive medications by 2009, and of those initially taking medications
(n = 5058), 5% had stopped. Of those taking medications in 2009, 89% indicated they
took the medication as prescribed, and 10% indicated they occasionally missed a dose.
Participants who were recently diagnosed, not measuring blood pressure at home, not
having a plan to control blood pressure, or not receiving instructions on how to take
medications were less likely to be taking antihypertensive medications; similar factors
tended to be associated with stopping antihypertensive medication use.
Conclusions
Compatible with high rates of hypertension control, most Canadians diagnosed with
hypertension take antihypertensive medications and report adherence. Widespread implementation
of self-management strategies for blood pressure control and standardized instructions
on antihypertensive medication may further optimize drug treatment.
Résumé
Introduction
Il semble que certains des plus grands obstacles à la maîtrise de la pression artérielle
sont la non-prescription de médicaments antihypertenseurs et la non-adhésion aux médicaments
d'ordonnance.
Méthodes
Les données rapportées par les 6 017 Canadiens ayant un diagnostic d'hypertension
qui ont répondu à l'Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes de 2008
et à l'Enquête sur les personnes ayant une maladie chronique au Canada de 2009 ont
été étudiées.
Résultats
La majorité (82 %) des individus ayant un diagnostic d'hypertension ont rapporté avoir
utilisé des médicaments antihypertenseurs. Les principales raisons pour ne pas prendre
de médicaments étaient qu'ils n'avaient pas été prescrits (42 %) ou que la pression
artérielle avait été maîtrisée sans médicaments (45 %). Parmi ceux qui n'avaient pas
pris de médicaments antihypertenseurs en 2008 (n = 963), 18 % avaient commencé des
médicaments antihypertenseurs en 2009, et parmi ceux qui avaient initialement pris
les médicaments (n = 5 058), 5 % les avaient cessés. Parmi ceux qui avaient pris les
médicaments en 2009, 89 % ont indiqué qu'ils avaient pris le médicament comme prescrit,
et 10 % ont indiqué qu'ils avaient occasionnellement omis une dose. Les participants
qui avaient été récemment diagnostiqués et qui ne mesuraient pas leur pression artérielle
à la maison, qui n'avaient pas un plan de maîtrise de la pression artérielle ou qui
n'avaient pas reçu de directives sur la manière de prendre les médicaments étaient
moins susceptibles de prendre des médicaments antihypertenseurs; des facteurs similaires
sont généralement associés à la cessation du médicament antihypertenseur.
Conclusions
Tels les taux élevés de maîtrise de l'hypertension, la plupart des Canadiens ayant
reçu un diagnostic d'hypertension prennent des médicaments antihypertenseurs et disent
s'engager à suivre leur traitement. La vaste mise en œuvre de stratégies pour la prise
en charge autonome de la maîtrise de la pression artérielle et des directives standardisées
sur les médicaments antihypertenseurs peuvent davantage optimiser le traitement à
l'aide de médicaments.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 23, 2012
Accepted:
January 23,
2012
Received:
November 28,
2011
Footnotes
See page 388 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.