Objective:

Compare disease beliefs and medication beliefs with adherence to treatment in patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus.

Method:

Comparative transverse design in hypertensive population, a group of 137 adherent patients and a group of 129 non-adherent patients. The beliefs of the disease and beliefs about the medication were evaluated. The statistical analysis included chi squared, odds ratio and confidence interval for odds ratio.

Results:

In the group of adherent patients, 71.5% have an adequate belief of the disease and in the group of non-adherent patients, 43.4% also have an adequate belief of the disease (p = 0.000). When the belief of the disease and beliefs about the medication are grouped, there is an association with adherence to treatment in hypertensive patients.

Conclusions:

There is an association between beliefs about the disease and medication with adherence to antihypertensive treatment.