4CPS-029 Adherence to medication and salt restriction and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients

Background Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a rising burden of hypertension. Antihypertensive medications and salt-restriction diet are the cornerstone of effective hypertension control. Purpose We therefore, assessed adherence to medication and salt restriction in 12 sub-Saharan countries and studied their relationship with blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive patients. Material and methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in urban clinics of 12 sub-Saharan countries (Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mozambique, Niger, Togo, Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal). Data collected on demographics, treatment and standardised BP measures were made among the hypertensive patients attending the clinics. BP control was defined as BP Results A total of 2198 hypertensive patients (mean age 58.4±11.8 years; 39.9% male) were included. Among these patients, 77.4% had uncontrolled BP, 34.0% were poorly adherent to salt restriction, 64.4% were poorly adherent to medication and 24.6% had poor adherence to both. Poor adherence to salt restriction (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.72), medication (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.93) or both (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.39 to 2.66) was related to uncontrolled BP. Moreover, poor adherence to both medication and salt restriction was related to 1.52 fold (95% CI: 1.04 to 2.22), 1.8 fold (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.65) and 3.08 fold (95% CI: 2.02 to 4.69) increased the likelihood of hypertension grade 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Conclusion High levels of non-adherence to medication and salt restriction were noted in this urban sub-Saharan study. Both were significantly associated with uncontrolled BP, representing major opportunities for intervention to improve hypertension control in sub-Saharan Africa. No conflict of interest