Treatment Adherence and Blood Pressure Control in Older Individuals with Hypertension

Background: Non-adherence to treatment has been identified as the main cause of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), and may represent a greater risk in older individuals. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the rate of adherence to hypertension treatment using different methods, to estimate the BP control rate, and to observe if there is an association between BP control and adherence. Methods: Treatment adherence was evaluated in older patients with hypertension, followed by the public primary health care, through four methods, including the Morisky-Green test (reference), the Attitude regarding the Medication Intake questionnaire (AMI), an evaluation of adherence by the nurse in the office (Nurse Adherence Evaluation - NAE), and at home (Home Adherence Evaluation - HAE). Salt intake was estimated by 24-hour sodium urinary excretion. BP control was assessed by the awake ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results: Concordance between the Morisky-Green test and AMI (Kappa=0.27) or NAE (Kappa=0.05) was poor. There was a moderate concordance between the Morisky-Green test and HAE. Eighty percent had controlled BP, including 42% with white-coat effect. The group with lower salt excretion informed to avoid salt intake more times (p<0.001) and had better medication adherence (p<0.001) than the higher salt excretion group. Conclusion: The evaluated tests did not show a good concordance to the Morisky-Green test. Adherence to hypertension treatment was low; however, there was a high rate of BP control when subjects with the white-coat effect were included in the analysis. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2012;99(1):636-641)

Home blood pressure monitoring and control in a group of hypertensive patients

This qualitative study was performed with 71 hypertensive patients, with the objectives to compare outpatient and home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM), to assess blood pressure control, and characterize white-coat hypertension. A nurse performed the outpatient blood pressure measurement. The home blood pressure monitoring was carried out over seven days. White-coat hypertension was quantified as a difference between the outpatient measurement and home blood pressure monitoring in the ranges from 1 to 5, 6 to 10 and > 10 mmHg. The outpatient blood pressure measurement was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the home blood pressure measurement. Pressure control corresponded to 9.9% in the outpatient measurement and 23.9% in the home blood pressure measurement. The white-coat effect > 10 mmHg was 57.7% for systolic and 32.4% for diastolic pressure, in the range from 6 to 10 mmHg. Home blood pressure measurement provided a better assessment of hypertensive patients' control.

Atuação da enfermeira eleva o controle de hipertensos e diminui o efeito do avental branco

Realizou-se estudo comparativo randomizado para avaliar o controle de hipertensos, com uso da medida residencial da pressão arterial (MRPA) e medida casual, bem como para analisar o efeito do avental branco. Hipertensos atendidos em unidades básicas de saúde foram divididos aleatoriamente em: grupo I, participante das atividades educativas, e grupo II, que seguiu a rotina de atendimento. Os hipertensos do grupo I realizaram MRPA no início e final do estudo. Efeito do avental branco foi avaliado pela diferença entre a medida casual e MRPA. Foram incluídos 290 hipertensos, porém realizaram MRPA 82 hipertensos. Houve aumento no controle da pressão do início ao final do estudo nos hipertensos do grupo I (p < 0,05) avaliado pela MRPA (60% para 68,3%) e pela medida casual (62% para 71%); no grupo II o controle foi maior na MRPA do que na medida casual (63% vs 50%). O efeito do avental branco foi maior no grupo II.