Characteristics associated with the dropout of hypertensive patients followed up in an outpatient referral clinic

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2010

RESUMO

Objective - To determine the characteristics associated with the dropout of patients followed up in a Brazilian out patient clinic specializing in hypertension. Methods - Planned prospective cohort study of patients who were prescribed an antihypertensive treatment after an extensive initial evaluation. The following parameters were analyzed: sex, age, educational level, duration of disease, pressure level used for classifying the patient, previous treatment, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, familial history of hypertension, and lesion in a target organ. Results – We studied 945 hypertensive patients, 533 (56%) of whom dropped out of the follow-up. The mean age was 52.3±12.9 years. The highest probabilities of dropout of the follow-up were associated with current smoking, relative risk of 1.46 (1.04-2.06); educational level equal to or below 5 years of schooling, relative risk of 1.52 (1.11-2.08); and hypertension duration below 5 years, relative risk of 1.78 (1.28- 2.48). Age increase was associated with a higher probability of follow-up with a relative risk of 0.98 (0.97-0.99). Conclusion – We identified a group at risk for dropping out the follow-up, which comprised patients with a lower educational level, a recent diagnosis of hypertension, and who were smokers. We think that measures assuring adherence to treatment should be directed to this group of patients.

ASSUNTO(S)

systemic hypertension farmacologia dropout treatment

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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