Principal Investigator (PI): Leonelo Bautista, PhD

PI Department: Population Health

Project Study Title: Quality of Life and Depression as Determinants of Treatment Adherence in Hypertensive Patients

Summary of Study: Non-adherence to prescribed treatments is a major contributor in the failure to control hypertension and lessen the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs used to prevent stoke, coronary heart disease, and chronic kidney disease. This study is designed to identify predictors of treatment adherence, to determine groups at risk of treatment non-compliance, and to design effective adherence-enhancing interventions. The study proposes to determine the relationship between medication compliance, depression, and quality of life.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if symptoms of depression and lower quality of life contribute to people becoming more likely to stop taking antihypertensive medication. Some of the components of quality of life that will be measured are general sense of well-being, sleeping problems, sexual dysfunction, and the presence of physical symptoms such as headache, cough, and dizziness.

Study Design: The study will enroll patients 20-69 years of age who have started taking antihypertensive medication within three weeks from beginning the study. Study participants will be asked to complete questionnaires pertaining to depression symptoms and quality of life at the start of treatment and at 2 month intervals for 1 year. Treatment adherence will also be measured.

DFM Clinic(s): DFM Clinics choosing to participate

DFM Faculty Contact: Paul D. Smith, MD

Study Contact Person:

Cindy Colombo, MS
Wisconsin Research & Education Network (WREN)
(608) 263-1636
cindy.colombo@fammed.wisc.edu

Date of Approval: September, 2006

Dates of Study: January 2008 - December 2010