Approach by Health Professionals to the Side Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy: Strategies for Improvement of Adherence

The aim was to determine whether complaints about side effects made by stage III hypertensive patients undergoing antihypertensive therapy lead to adequate blood pressure control. Forty-eight patients were monitored by a nurse every 15 days over the course of 180 days. At baseline, both groups presented similar SBP (systolic blood pressure) (GA, 196 (5)) mm Hg and GB, 189 (6) mm Hg) and DBP (diastolic blood pressure) (GA, 122 (3) mm Hg and GB, 121 (4) mm Hg). On day 165, after a progressive decline in blood pressure levels, the two groups differed significantly from each other regarding SBP (GA, -16.9 (24) mm Hg and GB, -40.8 (31) mm Hg). At the final follow-up, the patients were allocated to two groups: without complaints (GA) and with (GB) complaints about side effects. Complaining about side effects was a decisive factor for immediate nursing intervention and improved control over BP.