Effect of antihypertensive medication adherence on hospitalization for cardiovascular disease and mortality in hypertensive patients

摘要

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major leading cause of death in the world. Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for CVD, and managing blood pressure in hypertensive patients is important for the prevention of CVD and mortality. One effective management strategy to control blood pressure is medication. Patients who are adherent to antihypertensive drugs are more likely to achieve blood pressure control, have a decreased risk of adverse outcomes, including all-cause hospitalization, CVD hospitalization, revascularization of CVD, all-cause mortality and CVD mortality, and have lower healthcare costs compared with patients with low adherence.However, little research has been conducted on the rates of long-term antihypertensive medication adherence and the effect of antihypertensive medication adherence on adverse health outcomes in hypertensive patients in South Korea.9'10 In addition, previous studies on the association between medication adherence and health outcomes have used limited study populations or a small number of patients in clinical settings.2'3'5'6 Considering the differences in disease distribution, disease risk and healthcare systems between countries, it may not be appropriate to apply the results of previous studies to the interpretation of problems related to CVD and the design of interventions for improving health outcomes in hypertensive patients in South Korea.The objectives of this study were to assess the long-term medication adherence rates of hypertensive patients who were newly prescribed antihypertensive medication in South Korea and to evaluate the effect of adherence to antihypertensive medication on all-cause mortality and hospitalization for CVD.