FIXED-DOSE IRBESARTAN-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE TREATMENT ADHERENCE IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION PATIENTS: REGIONAL, MULTICENTER, NON-INTERVENTIONAL, NON-CONTROLLED, 3 MONTHS COHORT STUDY, PROSPECTIVE REGISTRY IN THE GULF REGION

Hypertension persists as a major public health challenge worldwide and is predominantly caused by treatment non-adherence. Assessments of adherence and barriers to antihypertensive therapies in the Gulf region are needed. We aim to assess adherence to ? and the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of ? fixed-dose irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive patients across several countries in the Gulf region. Essential hypertension patients for whom fixed-dose irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide was prescribed at physicians? discretion were followed for three months. Treatment adherence (using The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8)), tolerability, safety, and efficacy were assessed throughout the study period. Barriers preventing treatment adherence were also identified. We found that 70.9% of patients (n=681) were adherent to fixed-dose irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide therapy following three months of treatment. An adverse event rate of 0.4% (n=4) was reported; 0.1% (n=1) of patients experienced serious adverse events. Following three months of treatment, 73.3% of patients (n=704) reached their target Blood Pressure (BP). Achievement of target BP was more prevalent in non-diabetic hypertensive patients (75.5% vs. 69.1%; p=0.033). Inconvenience of daily treatment was the most commonly reported barrier to adherence; 60.4% (n=169). In conclusion, Fixed-dose irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide treatments can aid patients ? including diabetics ? correct elevated BP. High tolerability andtreatment effectiveness and a convenient dosing schedule are likely contributors to high antihypertensive treatment adherence.