Worldwide hypertension remains to be one of the leading causes of noncommunicable morbidity and mortality. Success of treatment is highly correlated to medication compliance. Non-adherence to medication is a public health problem which predominantly affects the elderly. In line with this challenge, this study sought to illuminate the current condition of antihypertensive medication compliance of elderly individuals and explore factors affecting medication compliance in selected barangays in Zamboanga City. This is a cross-sectional study utilizing a total count sampling method. Hypertension medication adherence was measured using the Morisky 8-Item Medication Adherence Questionnaire and a tool adapted from WHO on the five main dimensions of drug adherence. Out of 413 participants, the study revealed that majority (77.7 percent) of the elderly hypertensive patients were non-adherent and 22.2 percent are adherent. Results show that three factors were found to be significant predictors for medication adherence in the univariate and binary logistic regression analysis: forgetfulness (AOR: 10.881; 95% CI = 2.878, 41.141); hesitancy to visit health care facilities to get prescription or buy maintenance in pharmacies due to fear of having COVID 19 (AOR: 4.016; 95% CI = 1.776, 9.084); and being unable to afford medications or medical care (AOR: 1.727; 95% CI = 1.727, 7.418). The study concludes that majority of the elderly hypertensive patients are non-adherent. Poor adherence among elderly respondents is significantly correlated with forgetfulness, hesitancy to visit health care facilities due to fear of having COVID 19, and being unable to afford medications or medical care.

Keyword: Factors affecting antihypertensive medication compliance Elderly patients