Adherencia al tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial en los pacientes adultos mayores del Centro de Especialidades Médicas (CEM). Cuenca, 2024

Abstract

Poor adherence to antihypertensive medication in patients with arterial hypertension represents a significant public health concern due to its potential complications and the financial burden it imposes. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to this issue. This study aimed to assess the level of adherence to prescribed antihypertensive treatment among older adults attending outpatient services at the Medical Specialties Center (CEM). A descriptive, observational, crosssectional study was conducted among elderly patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension and undergoing pharmacological treatment. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling method was employed. Data were collected using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), and analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 2023. The sample consisted of 237 older adults, of whom 62.4% were women. The predominant age group was classified as "young-old" (64.1%). Only 29% of participants demonstrated high adherence to antihypertensive treatment. Greater adherence was observed among the "oldest-old" (2.7%), whereas the lowest adherence levels were found in the "young-old" group (28.2%). Furthermore, women accounted for the highest percentage of patients with low adherence (26.6%). In conclusion, the predominant age group was the "young-old," and the majority of participants were female. Overall, 71% of the older adults in this study exhibited poor adherence to antihypertensive therapy. Notably, poor adherence was most pronounced among women and individuals within the younger segment of the elderly population. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at improving treatment adherence, especially among high-risk subgroups such as younger elderly adults and women.