Association Between Depressive and Anxiety Disorders and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication in Community-Living Elderly Adults

Objectives To identify the determinants of antihypertensive medication adherence in community-living elderly adults. Design Longitudinal observational study. Setting Population-based health survey in the province of Quebec, Canada. Participants Data from a representative sample (N = 2,811) of community-dwelling adults in Quebec aged 65 and older participating in the Etude sur la Sante des Aines study. The final study sample analyzed consisted of 926 participants taking antihypertensive drugs during the 2 years of the study. Measurements Adherence to antihypertensive medication was measured using days of supply obtained during a specified time period. Depression and anxiety disorders were assessed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria, and physical health status was measured using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Other factors considered were age, education, marital status, annual family income, and number of antihypertensive drugs that participants used. Results Mean antihypertensive proportion (percentage) of days supplied in was 92.5% in Year 1 and 59.4% in Year 2. The presence of depression and anxiety disorders and the number of antihypertensive medications significantly predicted medication adherence. The sex by depression and anxiety disorders interaction term was significant. Conclusion Adherence to antihypertensive medication was significantly associated with depression and anxiety disorders in men but not women. The treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in individuals with hypertension may be helpful in improving medication adherence rates and healthcare outcomes. J Am Geriatr Soc 60:2297-2301, 2012.