Evaluation of Blood Pressure Control Levels and Treatment Compliances of Hypertensive Patients

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the knowledge of patients about hypertension (HT), compliance with lifestyle changes and to determine their blood pressure levels under antihypertensive therapy. Method: Hypertensive patients that applied to Family medicine outpatient clinics of Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital for the first time, in 2012 (between February 1 to April 30), were included in our cross-sectional study. Patients are evaluated primarily for the control and the factors that can affect high blood pressure and the rate on achieving treatment goals. Results: Three hundred and forty patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 60.5±10.7 years and 222 of them (65.3%) were female. The blood pressure was not under control in 108 (31.8%) patients. The mean body weight of male patients was statistically higher than females (p=0.015). The number of the patients that knew the normal blood pressure value was 249 (73.2%). Among those 155 (62.2%) were women and 179 (71.9%) were younger than 65 years of age (p=0.0001). Forty one patients (12.1%) were still smoking, 46 (13.5%) patients were exercising regularly and 32 (9.4%) were consuming regular diet. Blood pressure was better controlled in the group that was exercising regularly (p=0.001). The rate of male patients that were on regular exercise and diet, were higher than females (p=0.09). Only 86 patients (25.3%) knew the name of their antihypertensive medication and 65 of patients (19.1%) knew the dose of their medication. Female patients knew the name of their medication better than males (p=0.002). 156 patients (45.9%) were using two kinds of antihypertensive medication. 58 patients (17.1%) were skipping doses a few times a week. Conclusion: The knowledge of hypertensive patients on their illness and their compliance on non-drug treatments were inadequate. The compliance of patients should be improved by development of patient-doctor should be improved by development of patient-doctor relationship according to up-to-date guidelines [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(2.000): 224-232]