Characteristics and Factors Associated With Antihypertensive Medication Use in Patients Attending Peruvian Health Facilities.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is a very common disease worldwide, and medication is needed to prevent its short-term and long-term complications. Our objective was to determine the characteristics and factors associated with antihypertensive medication use in patients attending Peruvian health facilities.


METHODS
We performed a multicenter, cross-sectional study with secondary data. We obtained self-reported antihypertensive medication from patients attending health facilities in 10 departments of Peru. We looked for associations of the antihypertensive treatment according to sociopathological factors and obtained p values using generalized linear models.


RESULTS
Of the 894 patients with hypertension, 61% (547) were women and 60% (503) were on antihypertensive treatment, of which 82% (389) had monotherapy and 52% (258) had recently taken their medication. Antihypertensive treatment was positively correlated with the patient's age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.007 to 1.017; p value < 0.001), diabetes (aPR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.55; p value = 0.001) and cardiovascular disease (aPR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.51; p value < 0.001). Conversely, the frequency of antihypertensive treatment decreases with physical activity (aPR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.92; p value = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who have comorbidities and advanced age are more likely to be on antihypertensive treatment. In contrast, patients with increased physical activity have a lower frequency of antihypertensive treatment. It is important to consider these factors for future preventive programs and to improve therapeutic compliance.
Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Continental, Huancayo, Peru.
Christian R
CR
Mejia
Medicine, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo. Lambayeque, Peru.
Virgilio E
VE
Failoc-Rojas
Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Edison
E
So
Medicine, Aventura Hospital.
Carmen
C
Cervantes
Medicine, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana. Loreto, Peru.
Antonio J
AJ
Aspajo
Medicine, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión. Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
Jesus Galileo
JG
Leandro
Medicine, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión. Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
Jhomar
J
Cordova-De La Cruz
Medicine, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión. Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
Julio C
JC
Charri
Medicine, Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina del Centro, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú. Huancayo, Junín, Perú.
Kevin E
KE
García-Auqui
Medicine, Escuela Académico Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Continental. Huancayo, Junín, Perú.
Lelis Gabriela
LG
Coronel-Chucos
Medicine, Facultad de medicina, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru.
Luz Delia
LD
Justo-Pinto
Medicine, Facultad de medicina, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru.
Marisol Stefanie
MS
Mamani-Apaza
Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Los Andes.
Neil Arón
NA
Paz-Campos
NICHD, National Institute of Health.
Ricardo
R
Correa
hypertension; multicenter; peru; pharmacologic treatment