How to encourage people to take their blood pressure tablets

Biomarkers in urine, antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients –outreach study

Professor Maciej Tomaszewski at the University of Manchester wants to find out if a simple, five step intervention can encourage people to take their blood pressure medication properly. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects nearly 30% of adults in the UK. It puts strain on the heart and blood vessels, and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage, and death. However, many people with high blood pressure don’t take their medication properly, and so they remain at higher risk of heart and circulatory disease. In this study, Professor Tomaszewski will find out if he can encourage people to take their medication properly. He will first ask the patients to provide a urine sample to confirm if they take their blood pressure medication as prescribed. He will then select a group of patients who have not been taking their medicine regularly and will randomly divide them into two groups. One group will continue to give urine samples to check if they’re taking their medication and the doctor will discuss the test results, the reasons they haven’t taken the medication properly, and how they can improve this. The other group will continue with their routine care for high blood pressure. The team will check if there are any differences in blood pressure control between the two groups. This research will reveal if this simple intervention helps people to take their blood pressure medication properly, reducing the risk of future ill health.