May 31, 2010Age and Ageing111 citationsOpen Access
View Full PaperHealth-related quality of life and antihypertensive medication adherence among older adults
Key Result
Low physical and mental health-related quality of life scores were associated with higher odds of low antihypertensive medication adherence (OR 1.33 and 2.26, respectively).
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=2,180)
Structured PICO
Is health-related quality of life associated with antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults?
P
Population
2,180 older adults treated for hypertension in a managed care organization.
E
Exposure
Low health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores (Physical and Mental Component Summary Scores)
C
Comparator
HRQOL scores in the top 2 tertiles
O
Outcome
Antihypertensive medication adherence assessed with the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scalepatient reported
Low physical and mental health-related quality of life is significantly associated with lower adherence to antihypertensive medications in older adults.
Main Result
Odds Ratio: 1.33 (95% CI 1.01–1.74)
Abstract
PURPOSE: health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important psycho-social characteristic which may impact an individual's ability to manage their chronic disease. We examined the association between HRQOL and antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults. METHODS: participants were part of a cohort study of older adults enrolled in a managed care organisation and treated for hypertension (n = 2,180). Physical and Mental Component Summary Scores (PCS and MCS) of HRQOL were assessed using the RAND Medical Outcomes Study 36-item tool. Adherence to antihypertensive medication was assessed with the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. RESULTS: the mean age of participants was 75.0 +/- 5.6 years, 69.3% were white, 58.5% were women and 14.1% had low antihypertensive medication adherence. Low HRQOL scores were associated with lower levels of antihypertensive medication adherence in older adults. After adjustment for covariates, those with low PCS and MCS scores were 1.33 (95% CI 1.01, 1.74) and 2.26 (95% CI 1.74, 2.97) times more likely, respectively, to have low antihypertensive medication adherence than those with PCS and MCS scores in the top 2 tertiles. CONCLUSIONS: low HRQOL may be an important barrier to achieving high medication adherence.