ABSTRACT
Fewer than half of patients begun on antihypertensive therapy will still be taking their medication after 1 year. According to a survey of over 1000 hypertensives in England reported by Jones et al. (1995), the continuation rates at 6 months were between 40 and 50% regardless of the class of antihypertensive drug prescribed. On the other hand, Monane et al. (1997) found better compliance with other classes than with diuretics among a group of 8600 elderly hypertensives enrolled in the New Jersey Medicare program from 1982 to 1988. Compliance worsened when multiple drugs were prescribed and improved with more physician visits.
