Low Adherence to Immunosuppressants Is Associated With Symptom Experience Among Kidney Transplant Recipients

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 47; no. 9; pp. 2707 - 2711
• Main Authors: Lee, S.Y, Chu, S.H, Oh, E.G, Huh, K.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Fatigue - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Kidney Transplantation - psychology; Male; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Postoperative Complications - psychology; Quality of Life; Self Report; Surgery; Time Factors; Transplant Recipients - psychology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.09.056

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between immunosuppressant-related symptom experience (SE) and adherence to immunosuppressant regimens among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Methods A total of 239 KT recipients on an immunosuppressant regimen who were followed up after transplantation participated in this study. Data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire survey (medication adherence, SE, and quality of life) and medical record review. Results Low adherence in the immunosuppressant group was associated with longer time since KT, less comorbidity (<3), and a higher rehospitalization rate. Low adherence among KT recipients showed significantly greater overall symptom occurrence ( P  = .001) and symptom distress ( P  = .002) levels than patients with high or medium adherence after adjusting for a number of covariates. The most common symptom both in terms of occurrence (96.4%) and distress (91.1%) among poorly adherent KT recipients was tiredness. Conclusion Low adherence to an immunosuppressant regimen was significantly associated with high SE among KT recipients. Strategies to decrease immunosuppressant-related SE are needed to improve adherence to immunosuppressants.