Compliance with antihypertensive treatment in consultation rooms for hypertensive patients.

Compliance with antihypertensive therapy was examined by a questionnaire in 124 essential hypertension patients in an outpatient hypertension clinic. It was found that antihypertensive drugs were used regularly by only 62% of patients, with forgetting and feeling of well-being without therapy the principal reasons given for irregular drug taking. Treatment of hypertension is reported to have a deleterious effect on physical and mental activity, routine activities, sexual activity, memory, athletics and family life in only 2% of patients. Patients who were aware that increased BP reduces life span used the prescribed drugs more regularly and came regularly for checkups compared with patients lacking the relevant information. Patients over 60 years of age and smokers exhibited the worst compliance. No significant differences were found for sex or duration of treatment. With regard to nonpharmacological measures, most patients were willing to begin a programme of regular physical exercise, reduce weight, learn relaxation techniques and reduce alcohol intake: smokers, however were unable to stop the habit.