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Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence in Kidney Transplant Recipients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A
Chi Yuen Cheung1, Koon Ming Chan1, Gloria Tang1
1Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact immunosuppressive medication adherence in kidney transplant recipients. Good family support positively influenced adherence, with marital status being a key factor.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic strained global healthcare systems.
- Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) faced concerns regarding immunosuppressive medication (IM) adherence due to limited access to care and infection risks.
- This study aimed to assess IM nonadherence dimensions in KTRs during the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of immunosuppressive medication nonadherence in kidney transplant recipients.
- To identify sociodemographic factors associated with immunosuppressive medication nonadherence.
- To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medication adherence in this population.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted.
- Convenient sampling included kidney transplant recipients followed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
- Self-reported questionnaires and medical records were used to assess IM adherence and sociodemographic factors.
Main Results:
- Out of 210 participants, 35.2% reported IM nonadherence in the 4 weeks prior to survey.
- Timing adherence was the most common nonadherence pattern (30.1%).
- Marital status was identified as an independent risk factor for IM nonadherence (OR, 1.97; P=.03).
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly affect immunosuppressive medication adherence in kidney transplant recipients.
- All patients continued their immunosuppressive medication throughout the pandemic.
- Strong family support emerged as a positive influence on treatment adherence.
Background:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put an enormous burden on health care systems worldwide. Limited access to medical care and fear of increased infective risks due to the use of immunosuppressive medication (IM) have increased concerns about IM adherence in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The aim of this study was to determine the various dimensions of IM nonadherence in KTRs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
This was a single-center, cross-sectional study using a convenient sampling approach. KTRs with follow-up in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong between May 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020, were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire on IM adherence. The sociodemographic factors associated with IM adherence were extracted from medical records.
Results:
Overall, 210 patients completed the questionnaires. The overall IM nonadherence rate was 35.2% in the 4 weeks before survey completion. None of the patients stopped taking IMs without instructions from their health care providers. The most common pattern of IM nonadherence was timing adherence (n = 63; 30.1%), followed by dose-skipping item. Among the different sociodemographic factors studied, only marital status was an independent risk factor of IM nonadherence (odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.72; P = .03).
Conclusions:
The impact of COVID-19 on IM adherence in KTRs was not significant. All the patients continued their IM despite of the pandemic. Good family support can have a positive influence on treatment adherence in KTRs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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