Vnitr Lek 2017, 63(4):272-276 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2017.055

How to create cooperative patient for antihypertensive and hypolipidemic therapy

Jan Piťha^1,2

¹ Interní klinika 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha

² Centrum experimentální medicíny IKEM, Praha

Patient drug adherence is a major problem especially in the prevention of cardiovascular disease of atherosclerotic origin. On one hand, antihypertensive drugs and hypolipidemic drugs/statins are among the most successful, ones the other hand, they are among the drugs which are most frequently skipped by the patients. Improvement could be realized by education of patients, more frequent follow-ups, as well as by the use of new technologies involving specific dispensers and other, even more sophisticated methods. Nevertheless, among the most successful strategies is the simplification of medication, particularly the use of drugs with a longer half-life and the use of combination of several drugs in a single tablet. Therefore, we have quite wide range of options to improve patient compliance. However, some disadvantages should be kept in mind associated with these techniques. The aim of this article is to discuss potential problems and solutions associated with patient adherence/compliance with respect to antihypertensive and hypolipidemic treatment with an emphasis on practical approach.

Keywords: drug adherence; dyslipidemia; hypertension; pharmacotherapy

Received: April 3, 2017; Accepted: April 27, 2017; Published: April 1, 2017  Show citation