Table 1.
Participant characteristics according to adherence level using self-reported K-Wood-MAS-4
| Participant Characteristics, n (%) | Overall (N=1,532) |
Low Adherers* (N=593) |
High Adherers (N=939) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socio-Demographics | |||
| Age ≥ 75 years | 862 (56.3) | 333 (56.2) | 529 (56.3) |
| Female | 938 (61.2) | 390 (65.8) | 548 (58.4) ‡ |
| Black | 424 (27.7) | 197 (33.2) | 227 (24.2) ‡ |
| Married | 839 (54.8) | 313 (52.8) | 526 (56.0) |
| High school education or greater | 1235 (80.6) | 463 (78.1) | 772 (82.2) † |
| Clinical / Treatment Variables | |||
| Hypertension duration ≥ 10 Years | 963 (63.0) | 376 (63.6) | 587 (62.6) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥ 2 § | 845 (55.2) | 362 (61.1) | 483 (51.4) ‡ |
| Body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 | 1151 (75.9) | 452 (77.4) | 699 (75.0) |
| 3+ classes of antihypertensive medication § | 706 (46.1) | 296 (49.9) | 410 (43.7) † |
| Health Care System Variables | |||
| Not satisfied with overall health care | 56 (3.7) | 38 (6.4) | 18 (1.9) ‡ |
| Not satisfied with communication | 119 (7.9) | 68 (11.6) | 51 (5.5) ‡ |
| Not satisfied with access to healthcare | 57 (3.7) | 34 (5.7) | 23 (2.5) ‡ |
| Reduced antihypertensive medications due to cost | 34 (2.2) | 23 (3.9) | 11 (1.2) ‡ |
| 6+ visits to primary care physician § | 423 (27.7) | 202 (34.1) | 221 (23.6) ‡ |
| Psychosocial / Behavioral Variables | |||
| Current or former smoker | 749 (49.3) | 293 (49.7) | 456 (49.0) |
| ≥ 2 alcoholic beverages per week | 361 (23.6) | 111 (18.8) | 250 (26.6) ‡ |
| Depressive symptoms | 199 (13.0) | 118 (19.9) | 81 (8.6) ‡ |
| Low Social Support | 533 (34.8) | 233 (39.3) | 300 (32.0) ‡ |
| High Stress | 332 (21.7) | 171 (29.0) | 161 (17.2) ‡ |
| Self-Management Behaviors | |||
| Complementary and alternative medicine use | 304 (19.8) | 120 (20.2) | 184 (19.6) |
| Increasing fruits and vegetables | 1196 (78.1) | 454 (76.6) | 742 (79.0) |
| Reducing salt | 1245 (81.3) | 472 (79.6) | 773 (82.3) |
*
Low adherers defined by ≥1 point on the K-Wood-MAS-4, where one point was assigned for response options reflecting less than perfect medication-taking behavior or limitations in health
†
p<0.05
‡
p<0.01;
§
in the prior year
K-Wood-MAS-4 -Krousel-Wood 4-item medication adherence scale
Inclusion/exclusion criteria: Responded to all four items of the K-Wood-MAS-4 at 1st follow-up, had PDC at 1st follow up. Excluded if the first CVD (myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, or cardiovascular death) occurred prior to 1st follow-up.