Treatment Adherence in Hypertensive Patients – A Cross-sectional Study

IntroductionEpidemiological studies have indicated that the greatest challenge of hypertension is treatment adherence. This condition should be the primary focus of health care, particularly in chronic diseases/hypertension. The objectives of this study were to assess the treatment adherence among adults with hypertension in a Family Health Unit and characterise hypertensive patients of a Family Health Unit in Viseu, Portugal.Research MethodsIn a cross-sectional study we assessed 106 patients (50.9% male), mean age 58.26 ± 11.60 years and followed them up in the hypertension medical appointment in primary health care. We collected data through a questionnaire answered at the hypertension medical appointment, with questions about sociodemographic variables, Measure Treatment Adherence (MTA) scale and issues related to healthy lifestyle practices.FindingsOn average the hypertensive patients had this disease for 8.68±9.8 years; higher among males (p