Improving adherence to antihypertensive regimens among the elderly

Patient adherence is the most critical and vulnerable aspect of successful treatment of hypertension. Effective communication between physician and hypertensive patient is particularly important when treatment requires active lifelong involvement. Patients often need to make major changes in their way of life, requiring various levels of knowledge, motivation, skills, and reinforcement. Communication and patient education combined with proper therapy can increase treatment adherence in elderly hypertensive patients, thereby increasing control of the disease.