Abstract:


"Background: Hypertension is one among chronic conditions which is mostly associated with other disease comorbidities, resulting to use of multiple medications. The use of five or more medications which is termed as polypharmacy has resulted to problems such as adverse drug reactions, drug interaction, poor adherence and eventually poor blood pressure control. Thus, study aims to assess the association between polypharmacy and adherence to medications in hypertensive patients.

Method: A hospital based cross sectional study, conducted among hypertensive patients with or without other comorbidities attending Bugando Medical Centre from 1st April to 28th April 2024. Data was obtained from patients’ medical records and a semi structured questionnaire. Later cleaned and analysed using Excel and STATA version 15.

Results: A total of 251 patients were enrolled in this study, majority were female about 62% (155) and the most associated comorbidity was neuropathy in 45% (113) patients. Participants who had hypertension for more than five years were about 42% (106). Telmisartan and losartan were commonly prescribed hypertensive medications each with 29.88%. About 56% (140) patients had polypharmacy, and only 40% (101) patients were adherent to their treatment plans. A significant association was found between polypharmacy and adherence (P-value 0.003).

Conclusion: The level of polypharmacy was high in those with hypertension and other comorbidities. Also poor adherence was seen in patients with hypertension and other comorbidities and patients with polypharmacy. The study concludes that comorbidity and polypharmacy among hypertensive patients had interfered in achieving medication adherence."