title: Poor drug adherence and lack of awareness of hypertension among hypertensive stroke patients in Kampala, Uganda: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Raised blood pressure (BP) remains an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke. Adherence to therapeutic recommendations especially antihypertensive drugs is important in BP control. The aim of the study was to assess the stroke risk factors and levels of adherence among hypertensive patients with stroke in Kampala Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study we describe 112 hypertensive subjects with stroke from two Kampala city hospitals. A standardized pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect medical history, clinical details, radiological findings and laboratory data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 112 hypertensive subjects with stroke were enrolled between May 2013 and April 2014. The median ages were 63.5 years (52.5-75.0) for the cases. Seventy percent (78/112) of the study participants had ischemic strokes. Only 17% were adherent to anti-hypertensive medications. The main cause of non-adherence appears to be lack of knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor adherence of anti-hypertensive medications among hypertensive patients remains a big challenge in our setting. This has been attributed to lack of adequate knowledge and cost of the prescribed drugs. There is therefore an urgent need to promptly diagnose and educate hypertensive patients with emphasis on adherence to anti hypertensive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Mother Kevin Post Graduate Medical School, Nsambya Hospital, Uganda Martyr's University, P. O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda. isaacu0012@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mugwano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaddumukasa
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Mulago Hill Road, MUJHU3 Building, P. O. Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda. lmugenyi005@gmail.com.|I-Biostat, University of Hasselt, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. lmugenyi005@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Levi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mugenyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. jkkayima@gmail.com.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kayima
authors.affiliation: Mother Kevin Post Graduate Medical School, Nsambya Hospital, Uganda Martyr's University, P. O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda. ddumbaentamuezala@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ddumba
authors.affiliation: Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospital Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Martha.Sajatovic@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajatovic
authors.affiliation: Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospital Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. cathy.sila@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sila
authors.affiliation: Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospital Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. Michael.DeGeorgia@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DeGeorgia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. katabira@imul.com.
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katabira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001364:Awareness; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002784:Cholesterol