Published online before print May 1, 2006, doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000222373.59104.3d
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Hypertension. 2006;47:1039.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.
Editorial |
Recommendations for Evaluating Compliance and Persistence With Hypertension Therapy Using Retrospective Data
From Exponent (M.T.H., J.K.S.), Alexandria, Va; Novartis Pharma AG (Z.M.K.), Basel, Switzerland; University of Lausanne (M.B.), Lausanne, Switzerland; Caro Research (J.J.C.), Concord, Mass; Yale University (J.C.), New Haven, Conn; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (W.L.D.), East Hanover, NJ; University of Massachusetts Medical School (J.G.), Worcester, Mass; and Harvard University (N.K.H.), Boston, Mass.
Correspondence to Michael T. Halpern, Health Sciences Group, Exponent, 1800 Diagonal Rd, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail mhalpern@exponent.com
An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract. |
 |
Introduction |
|---|
Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study estimates that nonoptimal blood pressure [(BP) ie, systolic BP of >115 mm Hg] is responsible annually for 7.1 million deaths and the loss of 64.3 disability-adjusted life years worldwide.1 The associated economic burden of hypertension is also substantial. The average annual medical care cost for individuals with hypertension has been estimated at $3900 (in year 2000 US dollars) in Canada,2 with similar values ($3787) for the United States.3 The increase in medical care costs is greater for those with moderate-to-severe BP elevation (diastolic BP >104 mm Hg) than for those with mild disease.4
Although a broad range of hypertension medications have been demonstrated to reduce BP, and BP control is an achievable goal,5 reports suggest that up to two thirds of patients with hypertension are not successfully treated, that is, achieve BP control.6–8 According to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7), BP control rates are far below the "healthy people" goal of 50% set in 2000.9 A major (and modifiable) reason for lack of BP control is failure by patients to use medications as prescribed.10 Appropriate use of medications includes compliance, taking medications at the prescribed frequency/interval and dose/dosing regimen, and persistence, continuing their use for the specified treatment time period, which, in the case of hypertension therapy, is usually lifelong.11 Poor compliance with hypertension medications is
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  P. M. Ho, C. L. Bryson, and J. S. Rumsfeld Medication Adherence: Its Importance in Cardiovascular Outcomes Circulation, June 16, 2009; 119(23): 3028 - 3035. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Vrijens, G. Vincze, P. Kristanto, J. Urquhart, and M. Burnier Adherence to prescribed antihypertensive drug treatments: longitudinal study of electronically compiled dosing histories BMJ, May 17, 2008; 336(7653): 1114 - 1117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Mcgowan, A. Cockburn, M. W. Strachan, P. L Padfield, and J. A Mcknight Initial and sustained cardiovascular risk reduction in a pharmacist-led diabetes cardiovascular risk clinic The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, January 1, 2008; 8(1): 34 - 38. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. S. David Compliance With Hypertensive Therapy Hypertension, October 1, 2006; 48(4): E16 - E16. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. T. Halpern, Z. M. Khan, J. K. Schmier, M. Burnier, J. J. Caro, J. Cramer, W. L. Daley, J. Gurwitz, and N. K. Hollenberg Response to Compliance With Hypertension Therapy: Why Standards Are Needed Hypertension, October 1, 2006; 48(4): E17 - E17. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|