Difficulty in taking medication and stroke among older adults with systemic arterial hypertension: the Fibra Study/Dificuldade em tomar medicamentos e acidente vascular encefálico em idosos com hipertensão arterial sistêmica: Estudo Fibra

Resumo

This article aims to investigate whether diffculty in taking medication is associated with stroke among older adults with Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) and to explore their association with living arrangements. Cross-sectional study was based on 3,502 older adults with SAH from the four universities pole of Frailty in Brazilian Older People (Fibra) Study, Brazil, including 14 municipalities of the fve Brazilian regions. We used the medical diagnosis of stroke and diffculty in taking medications (self-reported diffculty and fnancial diffculty affording prescribed medications). Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression. Differently from women, older men with SAH, which report diffculty in taking medication (unintentional non-adherence), have higher odds of stroke. When stratifed by living arrangements, those living with a partner have even higher odds of stroke compared to those without diffculty in taking medication and living alone. None association was found for diffculty affording prescribed medication for both men and women. Unintentional diffculty in taking medication plays a role in SAH treatment among men. Primary care strategies for controlling blood pressure should not be focus only on patients but targeting spouses as well.