Compliance of patients with hypertension and associated factors

The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to evaluate compliance, and factors associated with compliance, in patients who had hypertension. Compliance with lifestyle recommendations, medication and attendance of follow-up visits was evaluated. The data were collected using a questionnaire completed by 138 patients with hypertension aged under 63 years from one town and three municipalities in Finland. The patients responded when they visited a doctor or a nurse in a health centre or an occupational health station. The response percentage was 94%. The data were analysed using the SPSS for Windows software. The results are presented as frequency and percentage distributions. The connections between the variables were studied by cross-tabulations and the chi-square method. The series was 60% female and 40% male. According to the blood pressure readings, the control of hypertension was good in one-tenth of the patients, average in two-thirds and poor in one-fifth. Based on the weight index, the control of hypertension was good in 28% of the patients, average in 30% and poor in 42%. Compliance with the dietary restrictions was poorest, while compliance with medication was best. Symptoms were reported by 61% of the females and 29% of the males. Nonsmoking, no symptoms, high level education and female sex were related to good compliance with dietary restrictions. Marital status and family size correlated significantly with smoking. Those who lived alone smoked more.