PATIENT COMPLIANCE AND ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITORS IN HYPERTENSION

Patient compliance is crucial to successful medical treatment. Many factors contribute to compliance, including age, sex. other sociodemographic factors, finances, intelligence, complexity of therapeutic regimen, and patient-physician rapport. Compliance is especially critical in medical conditions requiring prolonged therapy, such as hypertension. Historically, compliance among hypertensive patients has been alarmingly poor, with a 50% drop-off after I year and fewer than 20% still in therapy after 5 years. The use of enalapril, the long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that allows for a once-daily regimen, has improved treatment success and compliance. This probably is due to the efficacy of the drug, coupled with a low incidence of side effects. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.