LIFESTYLE OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS AND THEIR DRUG COMPLIANCE

Hypertension is increasing at an alarming rate in Jordan. The present study was done
with the help of 100 hypertensive Jordanian patients. A questionnaire designed specifically for
this new study in Jordan was used. The independent variables were: patient background and
lifestyle, clinical findings, medications used, alternative therapies and drug compliance. The
results were analyzed thoroughly and the findings showed that family history, smoking, stress,
obesity, age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and sedentary lifestyle were the major concomitant risk
factors among hypertensive patients. The proportion of each antihypertensive drug prescribed
by physicians was mentioned. Such result serve as a reference for physicians, pharmacists, drug
manufacturers, and drug distributors, in order to find the place of any studied drug either in the
therapy or in the drug marketing in Jordan.
Conclusions: The increase in prevalence of hypertension in Jordan was associated with
aging, stress factors, obesity and a more sedentary lifestyle. Recommendations on basis of the
results were made and the Jordanian health care providers, particularly pharmacists, were
asked to improve their roles in the health care team, by counseling patients and providing
optimal information in order to reduce the development of hypertension and its complications.