The Impact of Medication Adherence on Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to examine the medication adherence levels of hypertensive patients and to evaluate the effect of adherence on their quality of life. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted with 341 patients diagnosed with hypertension who visited a family health center in Erzincan between January and April 2025. Data were collected by using demographic information forms, the General Medication Adherence Scale, and WHOQOL-BREF. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The results of the study revealed the patients' medication adherence level was 1.86, and the quality of life score was 43.62 out of 100. The most problematic area in medication adherence was the patient behavior-related adherence subscale, while the least issues were observed in economic-related non-adherence. The lowest score for quality of life was found in the physical health domain. Statistical analyses indicated that the levels of medication adherence and quality of life significantly differed according to age, educational level, income, disease duration, and the number of comorbidities (p<0.05). Especially, individuals in the 45-64 age group had higher levels of both medication adherence and quality of life compared to patients aged 65 and above. According to the regression analysis, medication adherence significantly predicted the quality of life (p<0.05). Conclusion: From this perspective, the findings of this study are guiding for the development of health policies and the planning of personalized healthcare services.