Test patients’ urine to make sure they are taking medication, says new study

‘Patients should be given regular urine tests to ensure they are taking medication after a new study showed it identifies those who are ignoring prescriptions and encourages greater compliance.
Researchers from the University of Manchester tested 238 patients with high blood pressure and discovered that nearly one third were not taking tablets on a regular basis to lower their blood pressure.
However following testing, more than 80 per cent either took their medication correctly, or improved their adherence, leading to an average drop in blood pressure by between 20 and 30 mmHg between the urine test and the final clinic visit.
Such a significant drop in blood pressure across all patients could translate into an approximate 45 per cent reduction in risk of coronary heart disease and a 65 per cent reduction in the risk of stroke, the researchers calculate.’
Read more: Test patients’ urine to make sure they are taking medication, says new study