Adherence to antihypertensive drug treatment in Argentina: A multicenter study.

Adherence to antihypertensive medication is an important challenge that doctors often face in the treatment of hypertension. Good adherence is crucial to prevent cardiovascular complications. In consequence, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of adherence to antihypertensive treatment and identifying associated clinical variables. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 cities of Argentina. A systematic sampling was performed in order to select patients with hypertension and under pharmacological treatment for at least 6 months. Physicians took three BP measurements, and the level of adherence was assessed using the self-administered Morisky questionnaire (MMAS-8). Participants were classified into three levels of adherence: high adherence-MMAS score of 8; medium adherence-MMAS scores of 6 to <8; and low adherence-MMAS scores of <6. A total of 1111 individuals (62 ± 12 years old, women 49.4%) were included in the present analysis; 159 (14.3%), 329 (29.6%) and 623 (56.1%) patients had low, medium, and high adherence, respectively. The prevalence of controlled hypertension increased only in high adherent patients: 42.8%, 42.2%, and 64.5% for low, medium, and high adherence groups, respectively. Similarly, systolic BP was lower only in the high adherence group. High educational level (OR 3.47, 95% CI 2.68-4.49) and diuretic treatment (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.88) were independent predictors of high adherence. In conclusion, more than a half of treated hypertensive patients had a high level of adherence. These patients had lower BP values and higher control levels. A high educational level predicts high adherence.

Oral intake throughout the patients' lives after palliative metallic stent placement for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: a retrospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) have been managed with self-expandable metal stents to improve oral intake. Recent studies have shown conflicting results on the capacity of self-expandable metal stents to restore food intake in the long term. This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of enteral stent placement for GOO throughout the patients' lives. METHODS: This was a multicentre, retrospective study with a long-term follow-up of 74 patients who underwent enteral stenting for symptomatic GOO. Data were collected to analyse improvements in oral intake for the patients' entire lives as assessed by the GOO scoring system (GOOSS), technical success, stent patency, complications, the need for reintervention, survival and the prognostic factors associated with stent patency. RESULTS: Technical and clinical success was achieved in 100 and 97.2% of the patients, respectively. A total of 71/74 patients (95.9%) continued oral intake for the rest of their lives and 58/74 patients (78.4%) needed no further intervention until death. Solid food intake (GOOSS 2-3) continued until death in 47/74 patients (63.5%). The GOOSS score improved (P<0.001) during the follow-up compared with the baseline. The median survival and the mean stent patency were 8 and 76.6 weeks, respectively. The complication rate was 18.9%. Malignant stent reobstruction was observed in 7/74 patients (9.5%). A Cox multivariate analysis showed that duodenal location of the obstruction was the only independent factor associated with stent patency (hazard ratio=5.28; 95% confidence interval=1.14-24.45; P=0.033). CONCLUSION: Enteral stenting in patients with unresectable GOO is safe and clinically effective. Ninety-five per cent of patients are able to resume oral intake for the rest of their lives, and the great majority remain free from further intervention. In approximately two-thirds of patients, solid food intake continues until death.