Comprehensive evaluation of adherence to therapy, its associations, and its implications in patients of chronic myeloid leukemia on imatinib

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2016 Source:Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Author(s): Radhika Unnikrishnan, Surendran Veeraiah, Samson Mani, Rejiv Rajendranath, Swaminathan Rajaraman, Grace Sahaya Vidhubala Elangovan, Venkatraman Radhakrishnan, Trivadi S. Ganesan, Tenali G. Sagar, Prasanth Ganesan Adherence to oral therapy over a long-period is important for optimal outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Patients in chronic phase of CML (on imatinib for ≥6 months) were assessed by the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS 8) and EORTC Quality of life (QoL) Questionnaire (QLQ C30 and QLQ CML 24). Patients were classified as adherent (score 8) and non-adherent (score ≤7) as per the 8-item MMAS. Among 221 patients [M:F=133:88; median age: 39 (18-65); median duration of imatinib: 4 years] the non-adherence rate was 55% (N=122/221). None of the demographic parameters including occupation, education status, income, and availability of care-giver were associated with non-adherence. QoL scores, especially the symptom scores associated with side effects of imatinib significantly differed between adherent and non-adherent patients. Multivariate analysis revealed global health status as the sole predictor of adherent behavior (OR= 0.978, 95% CI; 0.963-0.994, p=0.007). Higher proportion of adherent patients achieved deeper molecular responses. Low QoL was associated with non-adherence to imatinib in patients with CML. It is likely th...
Source: Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research