Adherence to treatment in patients with arterial hypertension at the wartime conditions in Ukrainian population

Abstract Background Adherence to therapy significantly affects the course and prognosis of the disease. However, the impact of military operations and related factors on adherence to therapy has not been studied. Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate additional factors influencing adherence to antihypertensive treatment in wartime. Materials and Methods A total of 1299 patients with arterial hypertension from different regions of Ukraine included into the study. All regions were divided into 3 zones: active hostilities; regions with moderate intensity; relatively calm regions. Besides traditional factors (age, education, concomitant pathology, type of therapy), the individual patients’ status was included to analysis as being a resident of a given region, an immigrant from an occupied territory or from a region of hostilities, or a person temporarily displaced. Analysis was performed in 4 treatment groups: 1 – fixed three-component combination olmesartan medoxomil/ amlodipine/ hydrochlorothiazide, 2 – fixed two-component combination olmesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide, 3 – fixed two-component therapy with olmesartan/ amlodipine, 4 - other antihypertensive therapy. Adherence was assessed at 1, 2 and 3 treatment months. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses was performed to identify factors independently associated with treatment adherence. Results In total, 50 patients stopped the drug during the first month (3.8%), 9.8% stopped medication after 2 months, and 19.1% after 3 months. When analyzing patients' adherence depending on whether or not the doctor arrived from another region, we found that the percentage of patients who stopped treatment was almost twice higher if the doctor was displaced (32%), compared to doctors who remained in the places (18%). Based on results of comparative analysis, adherence to therapy was influenced by several factors: age, presence of concomitant coronary artery disease, staying in a high-risk region, number of pills, and prescribed drug. After 3 months adherence was 89% in patients who received 1 tablet per day, 84% - 2 tablets, 82% - 3-5 tablets, and 52% - more than 5 pills. The highest adherence was observed with the three-component pill and with combination of olmesartan and amlodipine. These combinations showed higher adherence compared to other types of therapy. Patient's level of education had no effect on adherence to therapy. Multivariate regression analysis showed, that age over 55 years (p=0.01) and patient’s being in dangerous area (p<0.0001) had significant independent negative influence on adherence. The use of two-component combination olmesartan/amlodipine or three-component therapy significantly increased adherence (p<0.0001). Conclusion In the wartime adherence to antihypertensive treatment depends both on previously known and specific factors - activity of hostilities in the region, as well as relocation of both patients and prescribing physicians to another region.