Compliance to Antihypertensive Drug Therapy Among Diagnosed Patients

Hypertension is a major non-communicable disease contributing significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Effective control of blood pressure largely depends on patient adherence to antihypertensive medication. This study aimed to assess the level of compliance to antihypertensive drugs among diagnosed hypertensive patients and to identify factors influencing non-compliance. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 60 hypertensive patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Pune. Medication adherence was assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). The study found that 36.7% of patients had high adherence, 26.7% had medium adherence, and 36.7% showed low adherence. Factors such as educational status, socioeconomic background, duration of treatment, polypharmacy, and presence of comorbidities influenced adherence levels. The findings highlight the need for patient education, simplified treatment regimens, and targeted counseling to improve long-term adherence and reduce hypertension-related complications.