Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke are highly prevalent and have a significant impact on quality of life and the healthcare economy. This study aimed to evaluate adherence to medication regimens in CVD patients.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 203 patients was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire which included an eight item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) to assess medication compliance.
Results: The survey included 203 patients, 164 (81%) males and 39 (19%) females. Overall, 156 (76.8%) had medical insurance, while only 47 (23.2%) were not medically insured. In total, 161 patients (79.3%) adhered to the medical regimen.
Conclusion: Most participants adhered to their treatment regimen in the present study. However, inadequate knowledge regarding side effects and abrupt discontinuation of medications without physician consultation was reported to a high degree. These findings highlight the areas for improvement in healthcare to improve medication adherence rates.
Keywords: adherence; cardiovascular disease; medical therapy; systemic hypertension; treatment regimen.
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