Adherence to treatment of patients with arterial hypertension in a University Hospital in Colombia

Background: Arterial hypertension is one of the most prevalent who did not modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. For an optimal control of this disease, it is important that patients have a good adherence to treatment, however, non compliance with treatment is still a frequent problem. Purpose: To characterize sociodemographically adherence to pharmacological treatment and identify the factors associated with therapeutic non-compliance in patients with arterial hypertension attending in a university hospital of Colombia. Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The entire population with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension who received care between April 1 and May 31, 2021 was included. The Morisky scale (MMAS-8) was used to assess adherence to pharmacological treatment. Results: 400 patients were included, of wich 56% were men. 14% of the patients were adherent to pharmacological treatment versus 86% who did not. The most frequently cause of non-adherence was the failure of the health insurers to supply medicines (49%). Conclusion: Non- adherence to pharmacological treatment remains a major barrier to achieving adequate control of chronic diseases.