Adherence to medications, lifestyle advice, and self-monitoring for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and interactive network analysis

The study analyzed medication adherence for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa based on 312 studies involving 108,014 participants from 28 countries. Results showed suboptimal adherence: 67% of patients took antidiabetic medications, 51% took antihypertensive medications, 44% followed dietary recommendations, and 42% engaged in physical activity. Self-monitoring was even lower, with only 18% monitoring glucose and 28% monitoring blood pressure. Overall self-care adherence was 37% for diabetes and 35% for hypertension. The analysis identified three key factors associated with better adherence: education, self-efficacy, and social support. The authors recommend that future interventional studies focus on these three areas to improve treatment adherence.