Investigation of variables associated with medication nonadherence in patients with hypertension

Objective: Medication nonadherence represents a major barrier to achieve optimal health outcomes in patients with hypertension. The study aim was to identify obstacles to medication adherence in patients with hypertension in Jordan. Methods: Socio-demographic and clinical variables in addition to medication adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed for patients attending three major hospitals in Jordan. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to identify predictors of medication nonadherence. Key findings: Of the 300 participants, 81% (n = 57) were classified as nonadherent. Both, the increase in the number of prescribed medications (OR = 0.349, CI = 0.17–1.19) and having comorbid illness (OR = 0.315, CI = 0.15–1.02) increased the risk of medication nonadherence by three times. The patients were also found six and eight times less likely to adhere to their medications if they had concerns about medications’ side effects (OR = 0.165, CI = 0.09–0.95) and if they reported poor HRQoL (OR = 0.127, CI = 0.04–0.87) respectively. Conclusions: Clinical pharmacists should consider prescribing the least possible number of medications and improving patients’ perceptions about the potential side effects of their medications. Furthermore, patients with comorbid diseases and those with poor HRQoL should be particularly addressed in future pharmaceutical care programs with the aim of improving medication adherence and health outcomes in patients with hypertension.