[Self-medication among black African hypertensive patients: Factors and consequences]

Introduction: Self-medication practice is under-evaluated among black African hypertensive patients.

Aim: To assess the level of self-medication among black African hypertensive patients and to determine the factors favoring this practice and their consequences.

Methods: Prospective study during a 3-month period including 612 hypertensive patients followed in Abidjan cardiology institute.

Results: Mean age was 55.1. The patients had a self-medication use in 60.1% of cases. Medicinal plants and derived products were commonly involved. Self-medication use reasons were: influence of relatives (89.8%) and the fear of antihypertensive drugs adverses effects (54.9%). Multivariate analysis shows that factors of self-medication were age (56.6 years vs. 50.3 years, P<0.001), income less than 762 euros/month (88% vs. 75.4%; OR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.62-4.6; P<0,0001), obesity (70.4% vs. 35.6%; OR=1.24; 95% CI: 0.75-1.15; P=0.037), dyslipidemia (40.8% vs. 27.9%; OR=6.72; 95% CI: 0.57-2.13; P=0.043), antihypertensive association therapy (61.7% vs. 51.4%; OR=2.27; 95% CI: 0.25-0.97; P=0.037). Poor control of high blood pressure (HBP) was a consequence of self-medication (6.5% vs. 47.1%; OR=10.27; 95% CI: 4.65-56.4; P=0.034), repercussions of HBP on major organ (75% vs. 17.2%; OR=12.9; 95% CI: 8.5-19.6; P=0.0001).

Conclusion: Self-medication is a common practice in African hypertensive patients. It has many consequences.