Nonadherence to antihypertensive medications amongst patients with uncontrolled hypertension: A retrospective study

Medication nonadherence represents a modifiable risk factor for patients with hypertension. Identification of nonadherent patients could have significant clinical and economic implications in the management of uncontrolled hypertension.We analysed the results of 174 urinary adherence screens from patients referred to Addenbrooke''s Hospital, Cambridge, for uncontrolled hypertension. Cases were identified for evaluation by results of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of urine samples (males: 91; females: 83; age range: 17–87). We performed a binary logistic regression analysis for nonadherence using age, sex, and number of medications prescribed (both antihypertensives and non-antihypertensives separately) as independent predictors. Rates of nonadherence for individual antihypertensive drugs were calculated if prescribed to ≥10 patients.The overall rate of nonadherence to one or more prescribed antihypertensive medications was 40.3%. 14.4% of all patients were nonadherent to all prescribed antihypertensive medications (complete nonadherence), whereas 25.9% of all patients were nonadherent to at least 1, (but not all) prescribed antihypertensive medications (partial nonadherence). 72% of patients were prescribed ≥3 antihypertensives And for every increase in the number of antihypertensive medications prescribed, nonadherence increased with adjusted odds ratios of 2.9 (P < .001). Logistic regression showed that women were 3.3 times more likely to be nonadherent (P = .004). Polypharmacy (≥6 medications prescribed for hypertension and/or concomitant comorbidities) was prevalent in 52%. Bendroflumethiazide and chlortalidone demonstrated the highest and lowest nonadherences respectively (45.5% and 11.8%).Rate of nonadherence in patients with hypertension was significantly impacted by sex and number of antihypertensive medications prescribed. Understanding these factors is crucial in identifying and managing nonadherence.     

Adherence to antihypertensive medications among adult hypertensive patients attending chronic follow-up units of Dessie Referral Hospital,Northeastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Hypertension is the leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Despite adherence to therapies is the important determinant of treatment success to reduce apparent resistant hypertension, maintaining good adherence to antihypertensive medications remained the most serious challenge. Thus, this study aimed to assess adherence to antihypertensive medications among adult hypertensive patients in Dessie Referral Hospital.A cross-sectional study design was conducted among hypertensive patients during May and June 2020. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.4 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 software for data cleaning and analysis. Data were analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression at a 95% confidence interval (CI). A variable that has a P-value < .05 was declared as statistically significant. Hosmer–Lemeshow test was used to test goodness-of-fit and multicollinearity was tested.The overall good adherence to antihypertensive medications was 51.9%; 95% CI: (46.8–58.3%) and poor adherence was 48.1%. Factors associated with good adherence were: sex—female adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 1.31; 95% CI (1.06–2.52), occupational status-employed AOR = 2.24; 95% CI (1.33–3.72), good knowledge of the disease AOR = 2.20; 95% CI (1.34–3.72) and good self-efficacy AOR = 1.38; 95% CI (1.20–2.13).This study revealed that almost half of the hypertensive patients in Dessie Referral Hospital had good antihypertensive medication adherence. Sex, occupational status, knowledge, and self-efficacy were factors associated with good adherence. Therefore, health education should be given to patients on the importance of complying with medication and patients should be monitored by health extension workers.     

北京市城乡老年人抗高血压药物7年变化趋势

目的: 了解北京市城乡老年人抗高血压药物使用7年变化情况。 方法: 采用分层、随机、整群等距的抽样原则,于2000、2004和2007年3次选取北京地区≥60岁的2 832、1 828和2 277例老年人进行血压测量及相关资料的收集,应用χ2检验对不同性别、年龄、居住地区与高血压用药7年变化趋势进行单因素分析。结果: 钙通道阻滞剂（CCB）、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂（ACEI）、利尿剂和β-受体阻滞剂的使用逐年增多,而降压片的使用明显减少。结论: 老年高血压病的治疗已不仅仅局限于降压,还要考虑防治并发症,提高高血压病患者的生命质量。     

Association of optimal blood pressure with mortality in patients taking antihypertensive medications

We investigated the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and mortality in patients taking antihypertensive medications in the Korean using data from the 2007‐2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. A total of 6601 patients aged 30‐74 years were included. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were both divided into four groups as follows: SBP < 120, 120 ≤ SBP ≤ 129 130 ≤ SBP ≤ 139, and SBP ≥ 140; DBP < 70, 70 ≤ DBP ≤ 79, 80 ≤ DBP ≤ 89, and DBP ≥ 90. The survival rates and hazard ratios were evaluated using Kaplan‐Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analyses. To evaluate the predictability of all‐cause mortality according to SBP and/or DBP, we calculated Harrell''s concordance‐index. The lowest DBP group had a high risk of mortality regardless of the SBP status. The group with DBP < 70 mm Hg and SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg showed the highest mortality. The discriminatory ability calculated using Harrell''s C‐indexes was greater for the combination of SBP and DBP compared to DBP or SBP alone. These results suggest that it is more effective to simultaneously evaluate the effect of SBP and DBP to predict mortality; clinicians should manage DBP < 70 mm Hg when treating hypertensive patients.     

A 5-year prospective,observational study of the withdrawal of antihypertensive treatment in elderly people

Abstract. Objectives . To observe blood pressure, cardiovascular events, and total mortality after withdrawing antihypertensive treatment for elderly patients. Design . Multicentre observational study. Setting . Sweden. A 5-year follow-up of 333 elderly hypertensive patients, aged 70–84 years (mean age 75.2 ± sd 3.8 years, 68% females). In all, 74 out of the 333 patients (22%) died during the study period. Method . After withdrawal of the antihypertensive therapy, all patients started in the untreated state and during the 5-year follow-up they could then either remain in the untreated state, or be reverted to blood-pressure-lowering drug treatment because of hypertension or other diseases, e.g. angina pectoris, oedema, congestive heart failure, etc. Results . The probability of remaining without treatment for 5 years was estimated to be 20%. During the state of no treatment the patients had a lower total mortality risk than that of the general Swedish population, matched for age and sex. They also had a lower risk of cardiovascular events than those in the treated states. Markers indicating a successful withdrawal were monotherapy in low doses and relatively low blood pressure before withdrawal. Conclusion . These results suggest that with frequent check-ups, withdrawal of antihypertensive therapy in the elderly can be tried without increased risk of cardiovascular events.     

The relationship between casual and ambulatory blood pressure in essential hypertension: the influence of work, duration of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment

Casual blood pressure (BP) and ambulatory BP (mean 24-h BP) were determined in 23 untreated patients with essential hypertension and in 11 normotensive healthy control subjects. Mean 24-h BP was significantly lower than casual BP in patients with essential hypertension, but not in control subjects. This was demonstrated in the patients who did not work during the ambulatory BP monitoring and in the patients with newly recognized hypertension, whereas no differences were revealed either in the patients who went to work or had a known duration of hypertension longer than 6 months. The size of the difference between casual BP and mean 24-h BP was unaffected by antihypertensive therapy with metoprolol and also individually reproducible. An accordance between casual and ambulatory BP measurements in evaluation of the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment was found in 75% of the patients. Casual BP and mean 24-h BP were weakly correlated both before and during antihypertensive treatment. It is concluded that the higher casual BP than ambulatory BP in essential hypertension may be a specific characteristic of the disease. Both work and known duration of hypertension longer than 6 months eliminate the difference between casual ambulatory BP in essential hypertension. Ambulatory BP monitoring seems to be superior to casual BP measurements in the evaluation of antihypertensive treatment.     

高龄男性原发性高血压患者降压药物应用现状

目的探讨高龄男性原发性高血压患者的降压药物治疗现状,为临床治疗提供参考。方法对106例75岁以上男性原发性高血压患者出院时降压药物应用方案进行登记并行χ2检验。结果应用最多的是长效钙离子拮抗剂(CCB,77.35%)、其次是β受体阻滞剂(46.23%)、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(40.57%)、血管紧张素Ⅱ受体拮抗剂(28.30%)、利尿剂(26.42%)和α受体阻滞剂(0.94%),长效CCB明显高于其他种类降压药物,有78.31%的患者需要两种以上降压药物的联合治疗,平均服降压药物种类(2.19±0.86)种例。结论高龄男性原发性高血压患者适用于以长效CCB为基础的小剂量联合降压治疗方案,而利尿剂不是其一线药物。     

Association between blood pressure reduction with antihypertensive treatment and sleep apnea activity

This study investigated whether a drug therapy–induced reduction in nocturnal blood pressure (BP) was associated with decreased sleep apnea activity. Two polysomnographies from 54 hospitalized male hypertensive, obstructive sleep apnea patients were analyzed in a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group trial of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor cilazapril (C), 2.5 mg once daily, or placebo (P). Blood pressure was measured by means of an intra-arterial catheter. Compared with P, C lowered mean arterial BP during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) (−8.3 ± 10.7 mm Hg, P = .05) and REM sleep (−8.6 ± 10.1 mm Hg, P = .02). Respiratory disturbance index (−8.6 ± 3.2 events/h of sleep (n/h), P = .01) and apnea index (AI) (−6.6 ± 3.0 n/h, P = .04) during NREM sleep were lowered by C and, to a lesser extent, by P (−5.9 ± 3.2 n/h, P = .07 and −5.0 ± 3.6 n/h, P = .18, respectively). The effect on AI and hypopnea index (HI) during REM sleep was not significant for C (−5.9 ± 3.4 and 0.1 ± 2.0, NS, respectively) and P (−2.6 ± 3.9 and 1.6 ± 2.0, NS, respectively). There was a significant linear correlation between the change in REM systolic BP and the change in REM AI (r = 0.28, P = .04); the mean BP change correlated negatively with the change in HI (−0.28, P = .04). During NREM sleep there was no significant correlation between changes in BP and the treatment effects on sleep apnea activity. Blood pressure reduction after short-term antihypertensive treatment did not affect sleep disordered breathing during NREM sleep. Reduced BP was associated with a weak reduction of AI and a slight increase of HI during REM sleep. It appears that elevated BP contributes only marginally to sleep apnea severity in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea.     

Severe inpatient hypertension prevalence and blood pressure response to antihypertensive treatment

Severe hypertension (HTN) that develops during hospitalization is more common than admission for HTN; however, it is poorly studied, and treatment guidelines are lacking. Our goal is to characterize hospitalized patients who develop severe HTN and assess blood pressure (BP) response to treatment. This is a multi‐hospital retrospective cohort study of adults admitted for reasons other than HTN who developed severe HTN. The authors defined severe inpatient HTN as the first documented BP elevation (systolic BP > 180 or diastolic BP > 110) at least 1 hour after admission. Treatment was defined as receiving antihypertensives (intravenous [IV] or oral) within 6h of BP elevation. As a measure of possible overtreatment, the authors studied the association between treatment and time to mean arterial pressure (MAP) drop ≥ 30% using the Cox proportional hazards model. Among 224 265 hospitalized adults, 10% developed severe HTN of which 40% were treated. Compared to patients who did not develop severe HTN, those who did were older, more commonly women and black, and had more comorbidities. Incident MAP drop ≥ 30% among treated and untreated patients with severe HTN was 2.2 versus 5.7/1000 person‐hours. After adjustment, treated versus. untreated patients had lower rates of MAP drop ≥ 30% (hazard rate [HR]: 0.9 [0.8, 0.99]). However, those receiving only IV treatment versus untreated had greater rates of MAP drop ≥ 30% (1.4 [1.2, 1.7]). Overall, the authors found that clinically significant MAP drop is observed among inpatients with severe HTN irrespective of treatment, with greater rates observed among patients treated only with IV antihypertensives. Further research is needed to phenotype inpatients with severe HTN.     

老年高血压患者降压治疗后舒张压对心脑血管事件的影响

目的探讨老年高血压患者降压治疗后,舒张压水平与心脑血管事件的关系,并了解是否存在关于舒张压的"J"型曲线。方法采用回顾性研究方法将1010例老年高血压患者按降压治疗后舒张压水平分为6组:1组舒张压<65 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.1 33 kPa)68例,2组舒张压65～69 mm Hg 154例,3组舒张压70～74 mm Hg 334例,4组舒张压75～79 mm Hg 235例,5组舒张压80～84 mm Hg 148例,6组舒张压85～89 mm Hg 71例;应用Cox比例风险模型分析不同舒张压水平对心脑血管事件的影响。结果 2组心脑血管事件发病率最低,在校正传统危险因素后,与2组比较,4组、5组和6组心脑血管事件发生相对风险分别增加了68%、184%及203%(P<0.05,P<0.01),1组心脑血管事件发生相对风险虽有增加趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论老年高血压患者心脑血管事件随降压治疗后舒张压降低有减少趋势,舒张压降至65～69 mm Hg亦能获益。     

糖尿病对老年高血压患者动态血压及血压变异性的影响

目的探讨老年2型糖尿病患者中糖尿病对原发性高血压（高血压）患者的动态血压（ambulatory bloodpressure,ABP）及血压变异性（blood pressure variability,BPV）的影响。方法选取40例单纯高血压及42例65岁以上合并2型糖尿病的高血压患者,行24 h ABP监测,对2组患者的ABP及BPV进行对比分析。结果合并2型糖尿病的高血压患者日间平均收缩压（dmSBP）及夜间平均收缩压（nmSBP）高于单纯高血压患者,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05或0.01）;合并2型糖尿病的高血压患者日间脉压（dmPP）、夜间脉压（nmPP）及24 h平均脉压差（24 h-mPP）均大于单纯高血压患者,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05或0.01）;BPV方面,合并2型糖尿病的高血压患者日间收缩压标准差（dSBPSD）及日间收缩压标准差变异系数（dSBPCV）、夜间收缩压标准差（nSBPSD）及夜间收缩压标准差变异系数（nSBPCV）、24 h收缩压标准差（24 h-SBPSD）均显著高于单纯高血压患者,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05或0.01）。结论年龄、高血压是老年2型糖尿病患者大血管病变的独立危险因素,2型糖尿病合并高血压时,ABP及BPV增大,心血管系统的结构与功能异常。改善糖代谢状况将有助于形成良好的代谢记忆,从而改善血流动力学,减少心血管并发症。     

Antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of different drug regimens in isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly

The pharmacological treatment, mainly based on diuretics, ofisolated systolic hypertension (ISH) has recently been shownto reduce the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease in theelderly. The purpose of this study was to compare the antithypertensiveeffect and tolerability of different drug regimens in elderlysubjects with ISH (systolic blood pressure—SBP —160mmHg and diastolic blood pressure — DBP — <90mmHg). A multicentre, randomized, controlled open trial wasplanned in the general practice setting. Four widely used treatmentschedules were tested: hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg plus amiloride2·5 mg (H+Am), nifedipine slow release 20 mg (N), atenolol50 mg (At) and atenolol 25mg plus chlorthalidone 6·25mg (At+C). After a baseline evaluation, 308 patients (76·3% female,mean age 75·3 ± 7·1 years) were randomizedand followed up for 6 months. After 3 months the drug dosagewas doubled if the systolic blood pressure goal (SBP<160mmHg and SBP reduction of at least 20 mmHg) had not been reachedNinety-four subjects (30·5%) presented contraindicationsto ß-blockers. At the 3rd- and 6th-month visits alltreatment groups, except At, showed a significant reductionin SBP compared to the control group; DBP showed no significantreduction in any group at any time. At the end of the follow-upthe percentage of hypertensives who had reached the BP goalwas 14·6% in the control group, 52·9% in H+Am,54·8% in N, 28·6% in At and 52·2% in At+C.Over two-thirds of the patients on H+Am or N, and about 50%of those on At or At+ C at 6 months were taking the medicationat low dose. The rate of therapy discontinuation due to side effects duringfollow-up was significantly different among the drug regimenstested: 1·9% in the H+Am group compared to 12·5%,19·2% and 14·8% respectively in N, At and At+Cgroups (P<0·05 for H+Am vs At). The proportion ofsubjects who spontaneously reported, mild adverse effects after3 and 6 months of therapy was not signficantly different inthe study groups, even if an excess was observed in the N groupat 3 months. In conclusion, these data suggest that. diuretics are a firstchoice in the treatment of ISH, because of their hypotensiveefficacy and acceptability; nifedipine, if well tolerated, isan effective alternative to diuretics; a high proportion ofelderly patient with ISH present contraindications to ß-blockers,and atenolol has a poor antihypertensive effect.     

长时间立、坐、卧三体位对老年高血压患者血压值影响的观察

目的研究不同体位对老年高血压患者血压值的影响,并探讨可能的影响因素。方法连续选取在高血压科住院的60岁以上高血压患者为试验组,并以同期住院的45～60岁之间的高血压患者作为中年对照组,45岁以下的高血压患者为青年对照组,每组入选22例。试验日所有受试者停服降压药物并且避免吸烟、饮酒及饮用咖啡等影响准确测量血压的干扰因素。试验时每位患者依次采取立、坐、卧三体位,每种体位均保持2h,在保持同一体位的2h末使用台式汞柱血压计测量血压。结果试验组的收缩压随体位改变有显著性变化（P=0.026）：卧位、坐位、立位依次减低.分别为（140±16）,（134±14）,（130±17）mmHg。但舒张压随体位改变无显著性变化（P=0.082）。中年对照组和青年对照组的收缩压及舒张压随体位改变均无显著性变化（P〉0.05）。通过多元回归分析发现,胆固醇与老年高血压患者体位收缩压差值有关。结论立、坐、卧三体位对老年高血压患者的收缩压有显著影响。胆固醇是老年患者体位收缩压差值的独立影响因素。     

老年男性原发性高血压患者收缩压水平降低对心脑血管事件的影响

目的探讨老年男性原发性高血压患者降压治疗后,收缩压(SBP)水平与心脑血管事件发生的关系。方法采用回顾性研究方法 ,将836例老年男性原发性高血压患者,按降压治疗后SBP水平分为7组:1组29例,SBP110 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa);2组71例,SBP 110～11 9 mm Hg;3组224例,SBP 120～1 29 mm Hg,4组290例,SBP 1 30～1 39 mm Hg,5组150例,SBP 140～149 mm Hg,6组45例,SBP 150～1 59 mm Hg,7组27例,SBP≥1 60 mm Hg;应用COX比例风险模型分析不同SBP水平对心脑血管事件的影响。结果与4组比较,6组和7组心脑血管事件发生相对风险分别增加了123%和251%(P0.01);在校正传统危险因素后,与4组比较,1组、6组和7组心脑血管终点事件发生相对风险分别增加了118%、75%和148%(P0.05),心脑血管事件发生与SBP水平呈"J型曲线"现象。结论老年原发性高血压患者SBP水平过高或过低,均显著增加心脑血管事件,SBP在130～139 mm Hg是老年男性高血压患者合适的目标血压范围。     

High prevalence of masked uncontrolled morning hypertension in elderly non‐valvular atrial fibrillation patients: Home blood pressure substudy of the ANAFIE Registry

In the ANAFIE Registry home blood pressure subcohort, we evaluated 5204 patients aged ≥75 years with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) to assess blood pressure (BP) control, prevalence of masked hypertension, and anticoagulant use. Mean clinic (C) and home (H) systolic/diastolic BP(SBP/DBP) was 128.5/71.3 and 127.7/72.6 mm Hg, respectively. Overall, 77.5% of patients had hypertension; of these, 27.7%, 13.4%, 23.4%, and 35.6% had well‐controlled, white coat, masked, and sustained hypertension, respectively. Masked hypertension prevalence increased with diabetes, decreased renal function, age ≥80 years, current smoker status, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By morning/evening average, 59.0% of patients had mean H‐SBP ≥ 125 mm Hg; 48.9% had mean C‐SBP ≥ 130 mm Hg. Early morning hypertension (morning H‐SBP ≥ 125 mm Hg) was found in 65.9% of patients. Although 51.1% of patients had well‐controlled C‐SBP, 52.5% of these had uncontrolled morning H‐SBP. In elderly NVAF patients, morning H‐BP was poorly controlled, and masked uncontrolled morning hypertension remains significant.     

Poor sleep is responsible for the impaired nocturnal blood pressure dipping in elderly hypertensive: A cross-sectional study of elderly

Objective: This study was aimed to assess whether sleep disorder was associated with an increased risk of less nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping in elderly patients with hypertension.

Methods: Cases were 1006 patients, aged >60 years, who were admitted to hospital with diagnosed hypertension during 2016–2017, and were divided into three groups with the systolic nocturnal BP dipping of 10%, and 0% as the cut-off value. The patients’ sleep was evaluated by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI).

Results: Compared to non-dipper BP rhythm patients (n = 382) and dipper BP rhythm patients (n = 132), reverse dipper patients (n = 492) exhibited higher PSQI score and had higher scores on six components with the exception of use sleep drug (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that poor sleep, which was defined as high score of PSQI or its seven components, was associated with prevalence of reverse dipper in elderly hypertensive (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–1.21, p < 0.05) after adjusting for risk factors of hypertension. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between PSQI score (include its seven components) and nocturnal BP dipping value after adjusting for risk factors of hypertension (β = ?0.584, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In elderly patients with hypertension, poor sleep quality individuals were more prone to reverse dipper BP rhythm. Even adjusting for the effect of known risk factors of hypertension, poor sleep may contribute to attenuated BP dipping in elderly hypertensive.     

Use of strategies to improve antihypertensive medication adherence within United States outpatient health care practices,DocStyles 2015‐2016

Patients’ adherence to antihypertensive medications is key to controlling high blood pressure. Evidence‐based strategies to improve adherence exist, but their use, individually and in combination, has not been described. 2015‐2016 DocStyles data were analyzed to describe health care professionals’ and their practices’ use of 10 strategies to improve antihypertensive medication adherence across 3 categories: prescribing, education, and tracking/encouragement. Among 1590 respondents, a mean of using 5 strategies was reported, with individual strategy use ranging from 17.2% (providing patients adherence‐related rewards) to 69.4% (prescribing once‐daily regimens). Those with higher odds of using ≥7 strategies and strategies across all 3 categories included: (1) nurse practitioners compared to family practitioners/internists and (2) health care professionals in practices with standardized hypertension treatment protocols who routinely recommend home blood pressure monitor use compared to respondents without those characteristics. Despite using an array of evidence‐based adherence‐promoting strategies, additional opportunities exist for health care professionals to provide adherence support among hypertensive patients.