Abstract

Background: Blood pressure (BP) control and adherence in hypertensive population are lowest in developing countries. Limited information exists about factors involved and management strategies for improvements. Methods: A randomized weighted sample of 1,794 (from 316,654) hypertensive patients in Santiago, Chile, followed in a free Cardiovascular Health Program (CVHP) at primary care clinics providing life style counseling and hypertension drug therapy (Rx). BP control (<140/90 mmHg) and Rx adherence association with age, gender, education, income, obesity, diabetes, stress-depression, patient physician relation, alcohol use problem was analyzed. Odds Ratio (OR) were obtained for all the variables by multivariate logistic regression. Results: BP control was achieved in 56.5% and Rx adherence in 37.3%. No association was found between BP ≥140/90 mmHg and no adherence (OR 1.01 CI 95%, 0.78-1.32). BP ≥140/90 mmHg was associated to age, obesity and multiple Rx and along with no Rx adherence, to low income, poor patient physician relation and high stress-depression. Males, younger age, low education and income, alcohol use problem were associated to no Rx adherence. Conclusion: BP control of 56.5% is similar to results from developed countries and is higher than the reported 16.9% in the 2010 Chilean National Health Survey. BP control and adherence shared similar socioeconomic and psychosocial factors; their lack of association suggests unaccounted favorable effects of the CVHP.