Relationship between Cognitive Status and Medication Adherence among Elderly Patients with Hypertension

Poor medication adherence may result in adverse outcomes, such as a higher rate of hospitalization and increased costs of healthcare. In this regard, the present study was designed to determine the relationship between cognitive status and medication adherence among elderly patients with hypertension.

In this cross-sectional study, 180 elderly patients with hypertension were selected from Imam Reza Hospital in Amol, Iran, (2018) using convenience sampling. Cognitive impairment and medication adherence were assessed using the Cognitive State Test and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, respectively. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) using the independent t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. 

Out of 180 participants, 66.1% (n=119) of them were female. The mean age of the patients was 72.87±7.63 years. The mean values of medication adherence and cognition score were reported as 5.21±2.29 and 26.03±3.21, respectively. There was no significant relationship between medication adherence and total cognition score (P=0.322). Medication adherence was two times higher among those who were reported with no anxiety, compared to those who suffered from anxiety (β=-0.67; odds=0.51; P=0.008). The obtained results also showed medication adherence increased twelve times with one unit increase of verbal fluency. Moreover, medication adherence enhanced eight times with one unit increase of abstract thinking and judgment.

The subdomains of cognition, such as verbal fluency, as well as abstract thinking and judgment, had a significant relationship with medication adherence in elderly patients with hypertension. In this regard, it is suggested to assess cognitive status among elderly patients with hypertension and design appropriate interventions.