title: Antihypertensive medication adherence and blood pressure control among central Alabama veterans.
abstract: Medication nonadherence is associated with adverse outcomes. To evaluate antihypertensive medication adherence and its association with blood pressure (BP) control, the authors described population adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medication (proportion of days covered ≥80%) and BP control (mean BP <140/90 mm Hg) among central Alabama veterans during the fiscal year 2015. Overall, 75.1% of patients receiving antihypertensive medication were considered adherent, and 66.1% had adequate BP control. Patients adherent to antihypertensive medication were more likely to have adequate BP control compared with patients classified as nonadherent (67.4% vs 62.0%; adjusted odds ratio 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-1.44 [P<.0001]). Among patients who had uncontrolled BP, 73.6% were considered adherent to medication. Adherence to antihypertensive medication was associated with adequate BP control; however, a substantial proportion of patients with inadequate BP control were also considered adherent. Interventions to increase BP control could address more aggressive medication management to achieve BP goals.
authors.affiliation: Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, Montgomery, AL, USA.|Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Piercefield
authors.affiliation: Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Molly E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Cain Eric
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Addison P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ragan
authors.affiliation: Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Sondra D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents