Abstract
A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted at Hanoi Medical University Hospital involving 252 outpatients with hypertension to assess medication adherence rates and blood pressure management over a one-year period. The study revealed that the overall medication adherence rate was 55.95%, with good and moderate adherence levels at 26.59% and 29.37%, respectively. Of the initial cohort, 164 patients were re-interviewed after one year. Regarding follow-up frequency during that year: 20.12% of patients did not attend follow-up visits; 31.1% attended fewer than three visits; 29.88% attended between three and five visits; and 12.2% attended more than nine visits. Patients with health insurance experienced higher rates of prescription changes and hypertensive crises, although these differences were not statistically significant. The primary reasons for changing prescriptions included high cost (40.91%), uncontrolled blood pressure (27.27%), and side effects (6.82%). The most common medication switch was to single-pill combinations (SPC) of two drugs, representing 39.39% of changes. In conclusion, medication adherence remains low. Since hypertension is a chronic condition, regular follow-up examinations are crucial. Patients and healthcare providers should discuss medication costs to choose options that promote better adherence. Prioritizing single-pill combinations of two drugs in treatment may enhance patient compliance and blood pressure control.
