Socioeconomic impacts on medication adherence among patients with hypertension: A multicentre cross-sectional study in Lombok, Indonesia

Medication adherence and blood pressure control: A preliminary assessment of the role of health insurance in Nigeria and Ghana

Objectives

This study sought to assess the current impact of health insurance coverage on medication adherence and blood pressure control of patients being managed for hypertension in Ghana and Nigeria.

Methods

The study was a prospective study among 109 patients with hypertension in two health facilities with similar population dynamics in Ghana and Nigeria. Patients were systematically selected, categorized as having health insurance coverage or not, and followed up monthly for 6 months. The outcome variables (medication adherence and blood pressure control) were then measured and compared at 6 months. Analysis was done using Stata with level of significance set at p ⩽ 0.05.

Results

There was a 90% insurance coverage among participants from Ghana compared to 15% from Nigeria. National Health Insurance Authority enrolees in both countries had better blood pressure control and medication adherence compared to non-enrolees (adjusted odds ratio = 2.6 and 4.5, respectively).

Conclusion

National Health Insurance Authority enrolment was found to be poor among respondents in Nigeria compared to Ghana. Enrolment into the National health financing schemes in both countries led to better blood pressure control and medication adherence among patients with hypertension at primary health facilities. There is therefore the need for system strengthening to improve their sustainability.

Knowing the gap: medication use, adherence and blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings

Background

Hypertension is a major risk factor for global disease burden, however, little is known regarding the profiles of patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings.

Objective

This study aimed to profile medication use, adherence to medications and lifestyle modifications as well as blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary health centres (PHCs).

Methods

A cross-sectional study design used a structured data collection tool (questionnaire and checklist). Patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of hypertension, and prescribed an antihypertensive medication, and attending follow-up visits in the five PHCs in Surabaya, Indonesia, during a two-week study period (May-October 2019) were included. Descriptive analyses summarised the data, while binary logistic regression provided any independent associations between adherence profiles and blood pressure control.

Results

Of 457 eligible patients, 276 patients consented: PHC A (n = 50/91), PHC B (n = 65/116), PHC C (n = 47/61), PHC D (n = 60/88), PHC E (n = 54/101), giving an overall response rate of 60.4%. Patients were mainly treated with a single antihypertensive medication, i.e., amlodipine (89.1%), and many had not achieved blood pressure targets (68.1%). A majority reported notable levels of non-adherence to medication (low/intermediate, 65.2%) and poor healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly physical activity (inadequate, 87.7%) and discretionary salt use (regularly, 50.4%). Significant associations were found between low medication adherence, discretionary salt use and smoking, with blood pressure control.

Conclusions

The study findings provide the evidence needed to improve the current level of sub-optimal blood pressure management among patients with hypertension in these Indonesian primary care settings. Particular emphasis should be placed on antihypertensive medication adherence and healthy lifestyle behaviours through locally tailored hypertension-related interventions.