[The adverse effects of antihypertensive therapy: the perception of patients].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of side effects of antihypertensive therapy as patients perceive them, their distribution and association with several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey, made by telephone on a randomized sample of national scale, selected from the telephone directories.


METHODS
Of a randomized sample of 4480 people contacted, 3374 were interviewed, and 1425 hypertensive patients were identified. Of this group, 1000 (70%) completed the interview, and 425 (30%) refused to participate.


METHODS
Patients were interviewed by telephone by a company of market studies. Epi Info was used for statistical analysis. Associations between the occurrence of side effects and the sociodemographic and clinical variables were analysed by logistic regression.


RESULTS
44.3% of the patients surveyed (45.6% male and 43.6% female), experienced side effects. These were more common among the youngest (50.4%) and the oldest (45.5%). There was a tendency towards an inverse relationship with social class and a significant association (p = 0.009) with the region of residence, the South showing the lowest rate of side effects (26.3%). The analysis of the associations between side effects and the clinical variables showed that only the regularity of medication was close to statistical significance (p = 0.06). The other clinical variables (time since knowledge of hypertension, substitution of medication, number of drugs and current medication) did not show any association with the perception of side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a high prevalence of side effects referred by patients under antihypertensive therapy (44.3%). Among several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the only significant statistical association found was with region of residence (the South with the lowest rate). The patients' perception of side effects of antihypertensive therapy is admitted as a potential conditioner of compliance and a cause for deficient blood pressure control to be prevented.
Miguel
J M
JM
Instituto de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa.
Magalhães
E
E
de Oliveira
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011174:Portugal; D011897:Random Allocation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents