Adherence to Infliximab Treatment in a Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort

David S Vitale1, Rachel N Greenley, Diana G Lerner

  • 1*Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI †Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL.

Insights

High adherence to infliximab (a biologic therapy) was observed in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients. Nonadherent children experienced more emergency room visits and hospitalizations, highlighting the importance of treatment adherence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research
  • Biologic Therapy Adherence

Background:

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affects children, requiring long-term management.
  • Biologic therapies like infliximab are crucial for IBD treatment.
  • Understanding treatment adherence is vital for optimizing outcomes in pediatric IBD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess infliximab adherence rates in pediatric IBD patients.
  • To identify factors influencing adherence to infliximab therapy.
  • To compare acute care utilization between adherent and nonadherent groups.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients receiving infliximab.
  • Inclusion criteria: patients treated between October 2010 and October 2012.
  • Analysis of adherence data and acute care visits (ER, hospitalizations).

Main Results:

  • A high adherence rate of 91.4% was found in the pediatric IBD cohort.
  • Nonadherent patients demonstrated significantly higher rates of emergency room visits.
  • Nonadherent patients also had more hospitalizations compared to adherent patients.

Conclusions:

  • This study demonstrates high infliximab adherence in pediatric IBD.
  • Nonadherence is associated with increased acute care utilization.
  • Maintaining adherence to infliximab is critical for reducing healthcare resource use in pediatric IBD.

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