ABSTRACT:
This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out at 23 Family Health Centers in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. The objective was to verify the link between anti-hypertension treatment compliance and the types of cardiovascular complications present in hypertensive patients. The sample was composed of 182 hypertensive patients registered in the Sistema de Gestão Clínica de Hipertensão Arterial e Diabetes Mellitus da Atenção Básica who accepted to answer and fill in a structured form and an instrument to assess compliance. Among the arterial hypertension patients questioned, 62.0% were women, 66.9% were elderly people, 52.2% were patients with a family income between 1.5 and four monthly minimum wages, 61.2% had between one and eight years of education and 60.4% lived in households with two to four people. The most frequent complications found were cerebrovascular accident (37.9%) followed by acute myocardial infarction (20.3%). Treatment compliance was present in 52.0% of patients and was associated to cerebrovascular accident (p<0.001; OR=3.048; 95%CI=1.633-5.681). The results obtained suggest the need for a behavioral change in hypertensive patients, adopting health promotion measures in order to prevent further cardiovascular complications.
DESCRIPTORS:
Hypertension; Complications; Cardiovascular disease; Patient compliance; Primary health care