[Improvement of adherence in the treatment of hypertension].

Blood pressure control rates remain poor in the majority of patients with hypertension. One cause of suboptimal treatment of hypertension is poor medication adherence. Medication non-adherence was 29.7% in Japanese hypertensive patients and poor adherence group showed high blood pressure levels compared with good adherence group. Many factors, race, sex, age, cognitive function, side effect, and cost benefit contribute to the medication adherence. Young male subjects showed poor adherence and new visit and no comorbidity were also main factors of antihypertensive drug discontinuation. Pharmacy care and active health promotion improved medication adherence. Fixed-dose combination therapy also improved adherence and blood pressure control.