[Pharmacological compliance in the treatment of arterial hypertension. A review of studies published between 1975 and 2011]

A systematic review was performed from published articles on compliance (PubMed), between 1975 and first of June 2011. Specifically those which measured medication adherence using indirect methods (RCS and/or MEMS-Medication Event Monitoring System) were searched. Descriptors used were: hypertension AND patient compliance AND medication adherence. The main objective is to update the topic of therapeutic compliance in arterial hypertension worldwide, with special attention to Spain, as well as a critical evaluation of the evolution of therapeutic compliance over the period 1975-2011. After analysing 37 research studies published worldwide, the results were: total number of 8623 hypertensive patients, of whom 25.62% were non-compliers (n=2209; 95% CI; 23.82-27.42), and 74.38% were compliers (n=6414; 95% CI; 73.32-75.44). The weighted average of non-compliance was 37.60%. We conclude that the default rate in the pharmacological treatment of hypertension worldwide is high.