Global Prevalence of Adherence to Antihypertensives and Associated Moderating Factors Among Adults With Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis
8 affiliations
- 1National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- 2Mzimba District Hospital
- 3St John's Institute for Health
- 4Taipei Medical University
- 5Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
- 6University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- 7Mzuzu Central Hospital
- 8Independent Researcher
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a significant public health issue affecting over a billion adults worldwide with adherence to antihypertensives being crucial for achieving sustained blood pressure control and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To extend previous evidence, we conducted a meta-analysis on global prevalence of adherence to antihypertensives among adults. METHODS: statistics examined statistical heterogeneity with moderator analysis exploring sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was analyzed using exact fixed-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 123 studies with 1 052 445 adults with hypertension were included. Pooled global prevalence of adherence to antihypertensives was estimated at 58% (95% CI, 52%-63%), with 39% for high adherence, 29% for moderate adherence, and 35% for low adherence. Results for sensitivity analysis were 57.91% (95% CI, 57.81%-58.01%) with δ̂ being 24.3%. Prevalence across continents was 67% for Europe, 65% for South America, 60% for Africa, 56% for Asia, and 45% for North America. Adherence to antihypertensives was similar across low-income countries (61%), high-income countries (58), upper-middle-income countries (57%), and lower-middle-income countries (56%). In multivariate model, age and assessment tool only were significantly associated with medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, a large proportion of adults with hypertension exhibit moderate to low adherence to antihypertensive medications. Future studies should prioritize establishing consensus-based operational definitions and cutoff values to enhance adherence.
Related
- Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hypertension–Diabetes–Dyslipidemia Clustering Among Adults — Hainan Province, China, 2023
- Prevalence and factors associated with pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among slum residents in Mbarara City, Uganda, 2024
- Age-stratified prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in Nepal: Insights from the STEPS survey 2019
- Prevalence and factors associated with pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among HIV-negative partners in serodifferent relationships attending selected health facilities in Gulu District, Uganda
BibTeX
@article{ngolombe2026global,
title = {{Global Prevalence of Adherence to Antihypertensives and Associated Moderating Factors Among Adults With Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis}},
author = {Reymond Ngolombe and Burnett C. Chiona and Fikile Khangamwa Singano and Frank Sinyiza and Zizwani B. Chilinda and Tsae‐Jyy Wang},
journal = {Journal of the American Heart Association},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1161/jaha.125.047824},
url = {https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.047824},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Global Prevalence of Adherence to Antihypertensives and Associated Moderating Factors Among Adults With Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis
AU - Reymond Ngolombe
AU - Burnett C. Chiona
AU - Fikile Khangamwa Singano
AU - Frank Sinyiza
AU - Zizwani B. Chilinda
AU - Tsae‐Jyy Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Journal of the American Heart Association
DO - 10.1161/jaha.125.047824
UR - https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.047824
AB - BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a significant public health issue affecting over a billion adults worldwide with adherence to antihypertensives being crucial for achieving sustained blood pressure control and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To extend previous evidence, we conducted a meta-analysis on global prevalence of adherence to antihypertensives among adults. METHODS: statistics examined statistical heterogeneity with moderator analysis exploring sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was analyzed using exact fixed-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 123 studies with 1 052 445 adults with hypertension were included. Pooled global prevalence of adherence to antihypertensives was estimated at 58% (95% CI, 52%-63%), with 39% for high adherence, 29% for moderate adherence, and 35% for low adherence. Results for sensitivity analysis were 57.91% (95% CI, 57.81%-58.01%) with δ̂ being 24.3%. Prevalence across continents was 67% for Europe, 65% for South America, 60% for Africa, 56% for Asia, and 45% for North America. Adherence to antihypertensives was similar across low-income countries (61%), high-income countries (58), upper-middle-income countries (57%), and lower-middle-income countries (56%). In multivariate model, age and assessment tool only were significantly associated with medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, a large proportion of adults with hypertension exhibit moderate to low adherence to antihypertensive medications. Future studies should prioritize establishing consensus-based operational definitions and cutoff values to enhance adherence.
SN - 2047-9980
ER -