Antihypertensive Medications Adherence and Its Relationship to Blood Pressure Control Among Healthcare Workers in Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC): A Retrospective Analytic Study

BACKGROUND: Workers, including those in the healthcare industry, are exposed to occupational hazards that interfere with the health-disease process, negatively impacting their physical,[1] mental, and social health. [2] High blood pressure (HBP) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality of people in full productive capacity.[3] It is possible to assume that hypertensive patients who work in hospitals are more aware of the causes and complications related to hypertension, as well as about ways of prevention and treatment. Despite this assumption, there is a scarcity of studies looking at the level of adherence of Filipino healthcare workers in taking their antihypertensive medication OBJECTIVE: The study assessed antihypertensive treatment adherence and associated factors in healthcare workers from Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytic study design, consisting of 250 workers who self-reported as being hypertensive. Associations between sociodemographic, work, and health variables were assessed regarding adherence. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) was chosen for the study. RESULTS: Sixty % of participants were classified as controlled hypertensive patients, with 60% taking ARBs and 55.20% taking CCBs; from these, 84.80% of workers adhered to medication treatment. Adherence to pharmacological treatment has no significant association with BP control (p >.05). "Missing medical appointments" presented a statistically significant association with non-adherence to treatment. There was a greater chance (OR=5.85; p=0.005) of professionals who missed medical appointments not adhering to treatment, compared to those who reported not missing them. CONCLUSIONS: The main factors for non-adherence to treatment by workers were the presence of antihypertensive treatment disruption and missing medical appointments. Since hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases are asymptomatic diseases that require continuous treatment, hypertensive patients have difficulties understanding the importance of adhering to treatment.