Factors determining acceptance of illness in patients with arterial hypertension and comorbidities

BACKGROUND Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases. The need to undergo indefinite treatment combined with the risk of complications affecting the cardiovascular system impose significant psychological and somatic burden on the patient. Arterial hypertension (AH) is rarely an isolated disease and the most commonly observed comorbidities include metabolic disorders as well as clinically apparent complications associated with polypharmacy, which increases the risk of drug-induced adverse events. AIMS The aim of the study was to determine factors that have an impact on illness acceptance in patients with AH. METHODS The study included 532 patients diagnosed with AH. A standardized Acceptance of Illness Scale questionnaire and a questionnaire prepared by the authors were used. The Acceptance of Illness Scale allows to classify the illness acceptance as high (30-40 points), average (19-29 points), or low (8-18 points). RESULTS A high level of illness acceptance was noted in 45% of participants and an average level in 46%. Patients with different levels of illness acceptance showed disparities in: duration of AH, number of cardiovascular and all diseases, frequency of mental disorders, and number of drugs taken. The number of cardiovascular diseases was significantly lower in patients with high levels of illness acceptance than in those with poor acceptance. Disease duration in patients with a high level of illness acceptance was significantly shorter than in patients with average acceptance. CONCLUSIONS The level of illness acceptance is correlated with disease duration, number of diseases, and number of medications taken.