In a nutshell
This paper studied the effect of medication adherence on blood pressure in patients who receive nephron blockade or renin-angiotensin system blockade. The authors concluded that medication adherence helped in blood pressure control.
Some background
Patients with resistant hypertension have high blood pressure that cannot be lowered to appropriate levels even with three different medications. One factor in resistant hypertension could be that medications are not always taken as prescribed. It is believed that medication adherence would have an effect on resistant hypertension.
Methods & findings
The current study examined the association between medication adherance and resistant hypertension.
Patients with resistant high blood pressure were studied. 82 patients received nephron blockade (treatments that increase urine output, reducing fluid in the body). Examples of nephron blockades include spironolactone (Aldactone), furosemide (Lasix) and amiloride (Midamor). 82 patients received renin-angiotensin system blockers, such as ramipril (Altace) and bisoprolol (Zebata). Patients received medication for 12 weeks. Their blood pressure was measured. Medication adherence was measured in terms of the amount of drug present in the patient’s bodies.
81.7% of patients had acceptable medication adherence, while 18.3% did not.
In patients with acceptable medication adherence, average daytime blood pressure decreased further in patients who received nephron blockade than patients who received renin-angiotensin blockade. 64% of patients who received nephron blockade had acceptable medication adherence and controlled blood pressure. 18% of patients who received renin-angiotensin system blockade had acceptable medication adherence and controlled blood pressure.
In patients with acceptable medication adherence, size of the left side of the heart decreased further in patients who had nephron blockade than patients who had renin-angiotensin system blockade. A larger size of heart increases the risk of heart failure.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that medication adherence helps lower resistant blood pressure.
What’s next?
Discuss methods for medication adherance with your doctor.
Published By :
Journal of hypertension
Date :
Sep 16, 2015
