Social support, self-rated health, treatment adherence and effectiveness in patients with type II diabetes and hypertension

A high level of social support (SS) is associated with better health outcomes in many conditions, such as chronic diseases. To describe the level of SS in patients with Hypertension and type II Diabetes at Primary Health Care level in Chile and its association with self-rated health, adherence to treatment and better glycemic and blood pressure control. SS was measured using a social support inventory previously validated in Chile. Self-Rated Health was assessed with a single non-comparative general question; adherence to medication was assessed using the four-item Morisky medication adherence scale. Blood glucose and blood pressure control were also assessed. A logistic regression was performed to estimate Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR) and Robust Poisson method to estimate the Prevalence Ratio (PR). Eighty three percent of the 647 participants evaluated high for SS. There was a significant correlation between SS and Self-rated health (POR 2.32; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.19-11.23; PR 1.18; 95% CI 1.07-1.31). No statistically significant association was observed with medication adherence, glycemic or blood pressure control. High levels of SS were found. The association between self-rated health suggests that SS interventions targeting vulnerable subgroups would be worthwhile.