title: Adherence of patients to long-term medication: a cross-sectional study of antihypertensive regimens in Austria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence and causes for non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy in Austrian patients. A special focus was placed on social parameters and behavioural theories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were invited via advertisements in community pharmacies in Austria to complete an online survey. Inclusion criteria were an age of 18 years or older, a diagnosis of arterial hypertension and a current prescription of antihypertensive medication. Adherence was measured by the four-item Morisky scale. Non-adherence was defined by at least one point in the Morisky scale. Several demographic, social and behavioural parameters were analysed as potential co-variables associated with adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 323 patients completed the online survey, of which 109 (33.7%) met the criteria for non-adherence. In a multivariable model, self-efficacy and age were associated with adherence, whereas intention and barriers were linked to non-adherence; 56 patients (17.3%) were classified as intentionally non-adherent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that non-adherence affects an important proportion of patients in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Young age was a particularly important risk factor for non-adherence, and this patient population is, therefore, in need of special attention. Modifiable risk factors were identified that could help improving the treatment of arterial hypertension and potentially other chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lötsch
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auer-Hackenberg
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groger
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Sahdia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parveen
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plumpton
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Clyne
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Geest
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dobbels
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vrijens
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kardas
authors.forename: Dyfrig
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramharter
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents