Health-related quality of life and antihypertensive medication adherence among older adults.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Center for Health Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA. eholt@ochsner.org <eholt@ochsner.org>
Elizabeth Winter
EW
Holt
Paul
P
Muntner
Cara Jean
CJ
Joyce
Larry
L
Webber
Marie A
MA
Krousel-Wood
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008603:Mental Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents