The prevalence and associated factors of nonadherence to antihypertensive medication in secondary healthcare.

PURPOSE: Non-adherence (NA) to medication is a major contributor to treatment failure in hypertensive patients. Factors of the ecological model, at family/healthcare professional, service, and system levels, are rarely evaluated as correlates of NA in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This crossectional study assessed the prevalence of and associated factors of NA to antihypertensive medication among 485 hypertensive patients upon receiving secondary healthcare. The Morisky Green Levine Scale (MGLS) measured the implementation phase of adherence, and the Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-speaking Adults (SAHLPA) instrument, health literacy. Multivariate analysis to NA included variables according to the levels of the ecological model. RESULTS: Most patients were female (56.3%), white (53.2%), mean age of 62.0 ± 12.6 years, illiterate (61.6%), with low health literacy (70.9%), and low income (65.4%). Uncontrolled BP was frequent (75.2%); 57.1% of patients were nonadherent. In multivariate analysis based on the ecological model, adjusted for micro, meso- and macro-level correlates, NA was associated only with variables of patient-level: low health literacy (OR 1.62, CI 1.07-2.44, p = 0.020), income ≥ two reference wages (OR 0.46, CI 0.22-0.93, p = 0.031), lack of homeownership (OR 1.99, CI 1.13-3.51, p = 0.017), sedentarism (OR 1.78, CI 1.12-2.83, p = 0.014), and complexity of treatment (number of medications taken ≥ two times/day) (OR 1.56, CI 1.01-2.41, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: In this group of severely hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk, only patient-related characteristics were associated with NA. Our findings highlight the need for effective actions to optimize clinical outcomes in similar healthcare programs.

Prevalence and correlates of non-adherence to immunosuppressants and to health behaviours in patients after kidney transplantation in Brazil - the ADHERE BRAZIL multicentre study: a cross-sectional study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to immunosuppressive therapy is a prevalent risk factor for poor clinical and after kidney transplantation (KT), and has contributed to the lack of improvement in long-term graft survival over the past decade. Understanding the multilevel correlates and risk factors of non-adherence is crucial to determine the optimal level for planning interventions, namely at the patient, health care provider, KT centre, and health care system level. Brazil, having the largest public transplantation program in the world and with regional differences regarding access to health services and service implementation, is in a unique position to study this multilevel approach. Therefore, the Adhere Brazil Study (ADHERE BRAZIL) was designed to assess the prevalence and variability of non-adherence to immunosuppressants and to health behaviours among adult KT recipients in Brazil, and to assess the multilevel correlates of non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication. We describe the rationale, design, and methodology of the ADHERE BRAZIL study. METHODS/DESIGN: This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study that includes 20 Brazilian KT centres. A stratified sampling approach is used, based on strata, with the following characteristics considered: geographical region and transplant activity (number of KTs per year). A random sample of patients (proportional to the size of the centre within each stratum) is selected from each centre. The prevalence of different health behaviours is assessed through self-report. The assessment of multilevel correlates of non-adherence is guided by the ecological model that considers factors at the level of the patient, health-care professional, and transplant centre, using established instruments or instruments developed for this study. Data will be collected over an 18-month period, with information obtained during the regular follow-up visits to the transplant outpatient clinic and directly entered into the Research Electronic Data Capture (RedCap) system. Data entry is performed by a trained professional who is part of the transplant team. The data collection began in December 2015. DISCUSSION: This multicentre study is the first to evaluate multilevel correlates of non-adherence in KT patients and will provide a reliable estimate of non-adherence in Brazilian KT patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov on 10/10/2013, NCT02066935 .

Stress, coping and adherence to immunosuppressive medications in kidney transplantation: a comparative study / Estresse, coping e aderência a medicamentos imunossupressores em transplante renal: um estudo comparativo

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE : Adherence to medication is a key issue relating to outcomes from transplantation and it is influenced by several factors, such as stress and coping strategies. However, these factors have been poorly explored. We aimed to compare stress and coping strategies between adherent and nonadherent renal transplant recipients who were receiving immunosuppression. DESIGN AND SETTING : We conducted a comparative, cross-sectional and observational study at a university-based transplantation clinic in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. METHODS :Fifty patients were recruited and classified as adherent or nonadherent following administration of the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale. Stress was evaluated using the Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory for Adults and coping strategies were assessed using the Ways of Coping Scale. RESULTS : The study included 25 nonadherent patients and 25 controls with a mean age of 44.1 ± 12.8 years and median post-transplantation time of 71.8 months. Stress was present in 50% of the patients. Through simple logistic regression, nonadherence was correlated with palliative coping (OR 3.4; CI: 1.02-11.47; P < 0.05) and had a marginal trend toward significance with more advanced phases of stress (OR 4.7; CI: 0.99-22.51; P = 0.053). CONCLUSION :Stress and coping strategies may have implications for understanding and managing nonadherent behavior among transplantation patients and should be considered among the strategies for reducing nonadherence.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO :Aderência à medicação é uma questão chave para o resultado do transplante e é influenciada por diversos fatores, tais como o estresse e estratégias de enfrentamento ou coping . Entretanto, esses aspectos têm sido pouco explorados. Compararmos o estresse e as estratégias de coping em paciente transplantados renais, aderentes e não aderentes, em uso de imunossupressores. TIPO DE ESTUDOE LOCAL : Realizamos estudo comparativo, transversal e observacional em uma clínica universitária de transplantes em Juiz de Fora, Brasil. MÉTODO :Cinquenta pacientes foram selecionados e classificados como aderentes e não aderentes a partir da escala Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale. O estresse foi avaliado pelo Inventário de Sintomas de Estresse para Adulto de Lipp e as estratégias de coping foram avaliadas pela escala Escala de Modos de Enfrentamento de Problemas. RESULTADOS : O estudo inclui 25 pacientes não aderentes e 25 controles com idade média de 44,1 ± 12,8 anos e mediana de tempo de transplante de 71,8 meses. Estresse esteve presente em 50% dos pacientes. Por regressão linear simples, a não aderência foi associada com o coping paliativo (OR 3,4, CI: 1,02-11,47; P < 0,05) e teve uma tendência marginal a significância com as fases mais avançadas do estresse (OR 4,7, CI: 0,99-22,51; P = 0,053). CONCLUSÃO : Estresse e estratégias de coping podem trazer implicações na compreensão e manejo do comportamento de não aderência dos pacientes transplantados e deveriam ser considerados nas estratégias na redução da não aderência.

Low-Activity Kidney Transplant Center, A Single-Center Experience: Early Care as a Major Challenge.

OBJECTIVES: In many countries, some kidney transplants are performed in small centers, from which clinical data are rarely specifically reported. The aim of this study was to describe patient and graft survival rates and their correlates in a low-activity kidney transplant center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent transplant between January 2002 and May 2012 at a university hospital. Patient, graft, and death-censored graft survival rates were assessed with Kaplan-Meier analyses and compared by log-rank test, with associated factors analyzed by Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: Among a total of 162 patients, the mean age was 41.8 ± 13.5 years, and 92% received a living-donor graft. At 1, 3, and 5 years, patient survival was 88.6%, 86%, and 82.9%. Graft survival was 86.9%, 83%, and 77%, and death-censored graft survival was 98.1%, 96.6%, and 92.9% at the same time points. Most graft losses were due to patient death from infection and occurred within the first year after transplant. After adjustment, age over 42 years (hazard ratio of 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-11.13), deceased donor graft (hazard ratio of 11.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-108.35), and higher average education (hazard ratio of 4.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-24.32) were independently associated with graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: The observed patient and graft survival rates were similar to those described in large databases; however, early mortality remains a major challenge. Improving posttransplant care is a key issue to increasing survival in small transplant centers.

Stress, coping and adherence to immunosuppressive medications in kidney transplantation: a comparative study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: : Adherence to medication is a key issue relating to outcomes from transplantation and it is influenced by several factors, such as stress and coping strategies. However, these factors have been poorly explored. We aimed to compare stress and coping strategies between adherent and nonadherent renal transplant recipients who were receiving immunosuppression. DESIGN AND SETTING: : We conducted a comparative, cross-sectional and observational study at a university-based transplantation clinic in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. METHODS: :Fifty patients were recruited and classified as adherent or nonadherent following administration of the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale. Stress was evaluated using the Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory for Adults and coping strategies were assessed using the Ways of Coping Scale. RESULTS: : The study included 25 nonadherent patients and 25 controls with a mean age of 44.1 ± 12.8 years and median post-transplantation time of 71.8 months. Stress was present in 50% of the patients. Through simple logistic regression, nonadherence was correlated with palliative coping (OR 3.4; CI: 1.02-11.47; P < 0.05) and had a marginal trend toward significance with more advanced phases of stress (OR 4.7; CI: 0.99-22.51; P = 0.053). CONCLUSION: :Stress and coping strategies may have implications for understanding and managing nonadherent behavior among transplantation patients and should be considered among the strategies for reducing nonadherence.

Multilevel Correlates of Non-Adherence in Kidney Transplant Patients Benefitting from Full Cost Coverage for Immunosuppressives: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Adherence is the result of the interaction of the macro, meso, micro, and patient level factors. The macro level includes full coverage of immunosuppressive medications as is the case in Brazil. We studied the correlates of immunosuppressive non-adherence in post kidney transplant patients in the Brazilian health care system. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, adherence to immunosuppressives was assessed in a sample of 100 kidney transplant patients using a composite non-adherence score consisting of three methods (self-report [i.e., The Basel Adherence Scale for Assessment of Immunossupressives-BAASIS], collateral report, and immunosuppressive blood levels). Multilevel correlations of non-adherence were assessed (macro, meso, micro and patient level). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was applied to assess the correlates of non-adherence. RESULTS: Our sample consisted primarily of male (65%), Caucasians (72%) with a mean age of 45.0 ± 13.5 years old, who received grafts from a living donor (89%), with a mean time after transplantation of 72.3 ± 44.4 months. Prevalence of non-adherence was 51%. Family income higher than five reference wages (21.6 vs. 4%; OR 6.46 [1.35-30.89], p = 0.009; patient level), and having access to private health insurance (35.3% vs. 18.4%; OR 2.42 [0.96-6.10], p = 0.04; meso level) were associated with non-adherence in univariate analysis. Only the higher family income variable was retained in the multiple logistic regression model (OR 5.0; IC: 1.01-25.14; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Higher family income was the only factor that was associated with immunosuppressive non-adherence. In Brazil, lower income recipients benefit from better access to care and coverage of health care costs after transplantation. This is supposed to result in a better immunosuppressive adherence compared to high-income patients who have experienced these benefits continuously.