[Evaluation of the relationship between the occurrence of headache, use of analgesics and realizing a therapeutic effect among patients with hypertension].

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of headaches and analgesic use in hypertensive patients and to evaluate the relationship between taking analgesic drugs and adherence to antihypertensive therapy. 754 consecutive hypertensive patients (446 women and 308 men, aged 18-89 years, median age--58 years) from 7 out-patient centres participated in the study. Anonymous questionnaires consisted of 13 simple questions concerning demographic parameters (age, gender), clinical data (the duration of hypertension and antihypertensive therapy), the history of headache and use of analgesics were distributed among the participants. Among the hypertensives participating in the study, 82.9% (625) reported headaches. Analgesics were used by 65.3% (408) of hypertensive patients with headaches. There was significant, positive linear correlation between the history of headaches and the duration of analgesic use in hypertensive patients. The rate of non-compliance was significantly higher among patients with headaches who reported regular use of analgesics when compared to non-users of analgesics. There were statistically more non-compliants among patients taking more than 1 type of analgesics than in hypertensives reporting use of only 1 analgesic drug. The prevalence of headaches and the rate of analgesic use is considerably significant among hypertensive patients. Analgesic consumption seems to be a risk factor for non-adherence to antihypertensive medication.