Work

Compliance with antihypertensive therapy among elderly Medicaid enrollees: the roles of age, gender, and race.

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study measured compliance and related demographic factors in a retrospective cohort of 4068 elderly outpatients newly starting antihypertensive therapy from 1982 through 1988. METHODS: Logistic regression modeling of data from the New Jersey Medicaid program was used. RESULTS: These patients filled antihypertensive prescriptions covering an average of only 179 days in the 365-day follow-up period (49%) Good compliance (> or = 80%) was associated with advanced age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.12, for patients 85 or older) and White race (OR = 0.55 for Blacks). There was no relationship between compliance and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy in preventing cardiovascular morbidity, such high rates of noncompliance may contribute to suboptimal patient outcomes.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.86.12.1805

Authors: M Monane, R L Bohn, J H Gurwitz, R J Glynn, R Levin, J Avorn

Institutions: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Medication Adherence and Compliance

Subfield: Family Practice

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Heart Association, National Institute on Aging