Knowing the gap: medication use, adherence and blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major risk factor for global disease burden, however, little is known regarding the profiles of patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to profile medication use, adherence to medications and lifestyle modifications as well as blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary health centres (PHCs). METHODS: A cross-sectional study design used a structured data collection tool (questionnaire and checklist). Patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of hypertension, and prescribed an antihypertensive medication, and attending follow-up visits in the five PHCs in Surabaya, Indonesia, during a two-week study period (May–October 2019) were included. Descriptive analyses summarised the data, while binary logistic regression provided any independent associations between adherence profiles and blood pressure control. RESULTS: Of 457 eligible patients, 276 patients consented: PHC A (n = 50/91), PHC B (n = 65/116), PHC C (n = 47/61), PHC D (n = 60/88), PHC E (n = 54/101), giving an overall response rate of 60.4%. Patients were mainly treated with a single antihypertensive medication, i.e., amlodipine (89.1%), and many had not achieved blood pressure targets (68.1%). A majority reported notable levels of non-adherence to medication (low/intermediate, 65.2%) and poor healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly physical activity (inadequate, 87.7%) and discretionary salt use (regularly, 50.4%). Significant associations were found between low medication adherence, discretionary salt use and smoking, with blood pressure control. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings provide the evidence needed to improve the current level of sub-optimal blood pressure management among patients with hypertension in these Indonesian primary care settings. Particular emphasis should be placed on antihypertensive medication adherence and healthy lifestyle behaviours through locally tailored hypertension-related interventions.