Factors Predicting the Adherence to the Therapy of Italian IBD Patients

Medication Non-Adherence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review Identifying Risk Factors and Opportunities for Intervention

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is treated with medications to induce and maintain remission. However, many people with IBD do not take their prescribed treatment. Identifying factors associated with IBD medication adherence is crucial for supporting effective disease management and maintaining remission. Quantitative and qualitative studies researching IBD medication adherence between 2011 and 2023 were reviewed. In total, 36,589 participants were included in 79 studies. The associated non-adherence factors were contradictory across studies, with rates notably higher (72-79%) when measured via medication refill. Non-adherence was lower in high-quality studies using self-report measures (10.7-28.7%). The frequent modifiable non-adherence risks were a poor understanding of treatment or disease, medication accessibility and an individual's organisation and planning. Clinical variables relating to non-adherence were the treatment type, drug regime and disease activity. Depression, negative treatment beliefs/mood and anxiety increased the non-adherence likelihood. The non-modifiable factors of limited finance, younger age and female sex were also risks. Side effects were the main reason cited for IBD non-adherence in interviews. A large, contradictory set of literature exists regarding the factors underpinning IBD non-adherence, influenced by the adherence measures used. Simpler medication regimes and improved accessibility would help to improve adherence. IBD education could enhance patient knowledge and beliefs. Reminders and cues might minimise forgetting medication. Modifying risks through an adherence support intervention could improve outcomes.

Factors influencing medication adherence among patients with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease in Greece and Cyprus: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

. Aim: To examine the level of medication adherence among individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Greece and Cyprus and assess the demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables affecting it.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was administered to adult patients attending hospitals and treatment centers in Greece and Cyprus.

RESULTS

Results: From the total of 150 participants, 48.7% of patients took their medication when they had no symptoms, compared to 84% of symptomatic patients. For almost half of the patients, the main reason for non-adherence was daily obligations, while for 40.7% the reported reason was treatment-related side effects. 51.3% of the patients stated that they didn't require any assistance or reminders to improve their adherence. Adherence and reasons for not regularly taking medications were associated with sex, age, type, and duration of the disease as well as the type of treatment received.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: According to the findings of our study, patients perceived various obstacles, such as daily obligations and the side effects of prescribed drugs, which hindered their adherence to treatment. Adherence levels were found to be associated with demographic, disease-related, and treatment-related factors. These results underscore the importance of implementing timely and targeted interventions to enhance treatment adherence among patients with IBD.

Delivery Strategies of Probiotics from Nano- and Microparticles: Trends in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-An Overview

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder, most known as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), that affects the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), causing considerable symptoms to millions of people around the world. Conventional therapeutic strategies have limitations and side effects, prompting the exploration of innovative approaches. Probiotics, known for their potential to restore gut homeostasis, have emerged as promising candidates for IBD management. Probiotics have been shown to minimize disease symptoms, particularly in patients affected by UC, opening important opportunities to better treat this disease. However, they exhibit limitations in terms of stability and targeted delivery. As several studies demonstrate, the encapsulation of the probiotics, as well as the synthetic drug, into micro- and nanoparticles of organic materials offers great potential to solve this problem. They resist the harsh conditions of the upper GIT portions and, thus, protect the probiotic and drug inside, allowing for the delivery of adequate amounts directly into the colon. An overview of UC and CD, the benefits of the use of probiotics, and the potential of micro- and nanoencapsulation technologies to improve IBD treatment are presented. This review sheds light on the remarkable potential of nano- and microparticles loaded with probiotics as a novel and efficient strategy for managing IBD. Nonetheless, further investigations and clinical trials are warranted to validate their long-term safety and efficacy, paving the way for a new era in IBD therapeutics.

Effectiveness and Safety Profiles of Biological Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Real Life Data from an Active Pharmacovigilance Project

Post-marketing surveillance is essential to evaluate the risk/benefit profile of drugs; however, pharmacovigilance studies comparing persistence and safety of biologic therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scant. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate persistence together with safety profiles of biologics in a cohort of patients diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) followed by the IBD unit of Messina and treated with infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA), golimumab (GOL), vedolizumab (VED), and ustekinumab (UST) from 2017 through 2021. Descriptive and treatment persistence analyses with predictors for discontinuation and occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were performed. A total of 675 IBD patients were enrolled. A higher persistence rate was noted for UST and ADA in the first year (83.8% and 83.1%, respectively) and for IFX in the fifth year of treatment (58.1%). GOL, VED, and UST-all used as second/third-line therapies-seemed to have a higher risk of non-persistence than IFX (in order HR: 2.19; CI 95%: 1.33-3.61, 1.45; 1.04-2.04, 2.25; 1.25-4.07) as well as switchers and those who had at least one ADR (18.1; 13.22-24.68 and 1.55; 1.20-1.99, respectively). The reported ADRs, which were generally mild-moderate, were largely known. However, real-world data should be implemented to further study undetected safety concerns, including risk of malignancy.

Real-world evidence of quality of life improvement in patients with distal ulcerative colitis treated by mesalazine: the Quartz study

BACKGROUND

Distal ulcerative colitis (UC) is responsible for distressing symptoms and reduces quality of life (QoL). Oral and topical formulations of 5-amino-salicylic acid are the first line therapy for mild to moderate distal UC.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate the impact of mesalazine treatment for mild to moderate ulcerative proctitis and proctosigmoiditis on patient QoL.

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with mild to moderate ulcerative proctitis and proctosigmoiditis, initiating a treatment with Pentasa, were prospectively included. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to W8 in patient health-related QoL (HRQoL) as measured by the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) total score.

RESULTS

More than 80% of patients were prescribed with a rectal formulation, either alone (47.9%) or with an oral formulation (35.1%), and 17.0% of patients were prescribed oral formulation alone. Mean SIBDQ score was improved at W8 in patients affected with mild and moderate disease ( P  < 0.001 versus baseline in both groups, as well as in patients who achieved clinical remission ( P  < 0.001). Patients who achieved clinical remission at W8 reached a mean change of +6.7 (±7.1), whereas those who did not achieve clinical remission had a mean change of +1.1 (±8.9). Seventy-five per cent of patients had an improvement of their disability index at W8. Fecal incontinence was also improved at W8.

CONCLUSION

HRQoL measuring with the SIBDQ is proportionally related to disease activity in patients with distal UC treated with mesalazine.

The Effectiveness of Patient Training in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Knowledge via Instagram: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Patients’ knowledge was found to be a key contributor to the success of therapy. Many efforts have been made to educate patients in their disease. However, research found that many patients still lack knowledge regarding their disease. Integrating patient education into social media platforms can bring materials closer to recipients.

Objective

The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of patient education via Instagram.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effectiveness of patient education via Instagram among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Participants were recruited online from the open Instagram page of a patient organization. The intervention group was educated via Instagram for 5 weeks by the research team; the control group did not receive any educational intervention. The knowledge about their disease was measured pre- and postintervention using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Knowledge questionnaire. Data were analyzed by comparing mean knowledge scores and by regression analysis. The trial was purely web based.

Results

In total, 49 participants filled out both questionnaires. The intervention group included 25 participants, and the control group included 24 participants. The preintervention knowledge level of the intervention group was reflected as a score of 18.67 out of 24 points; this improved by 3 points to 21.67 postintervention. The postintervention difference between the control and intervention groups was 3.59 points and was statistically significant (t_32.88=–4.56, 95% CI 1.98-5.19; P<.001). Results of the regression analysis, accounting for preintervention knowledge and group heterogeneity, indicated an increase of 3.33 points that was explained by the intervention (P<.001).

Conclusions

Patient education via Instagram is an effective way to increase disease-related knowledge. Future studies are needed to assess the effects in other conditions and to compare different means of patient education.

Trial Registration

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00022935; https://tinyurl.com/bed4bzvh

Patients' perspectives on medication for inflammatory bowel disease: a mixed-method systematic review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong chronic disease that frequently requires long-term medical treatment to maintain remission. Patient perspectives on IBD medication are important to understand as nonadherence to IBD medication is common. We aim to synthesize the evidence about patients' perspectives on medication for IBD. A mixed-method systematic review was conducted on Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL. The convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration of qualitative and quantitative findings was used for data analysis. Twenty-five articles from 20 countries were included in this review (20 quantitative, 3 qualitative, and 2 mixed-method studies). Patients have identified a lack of knowledge in the areas of efficacy, side effects, and characteristics of medications as key elements. Some negative views on IBD medication may also be present (e.g. the high number of pills and potential side effects). Lack of knowledge about medication for IBD was identified as a common issue for patients. Health services delivery for IBD should take into consideration these patients' perspectives. A focus on improving patient education in these areas could help empower patients and alleviate doubts resulting in better disease management and improved healthcare outcomes.

Patient-Preferences Favoring Treatment Discontinuation Are Reduced With Vedolizumab and Ustekinumab Compared With TNF Antagonists in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Nonadherence to biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with risk of relapse, immunogenicity, and disease complications. Significant nonadherence prevalence is reported with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists but the risk of nonadherence with newer biologics with better safety profiles is unknown. This study aimed to investigate if IBD patient-preferences favoring biologic discontinuation vary by biologic class and analyze factors associated with such preferences.

Methods

A convenience sample of 200 adults with IBD on biologic therapy treated at an academic outpatient center was surveyed using a 22-point questionnaire. Patient-preference favoring treatment discontinuation between TNF-antagonist and non-TNF-antagonist biologics [vedolizumab (VDZ)/ustekinumab (UST)] was compared using χ ² test. Risk factors associated with a preference to discontinue biologic therapy were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression, and Spearman rank correlation analyses.

Results

A total of 190 questionnaires were analyzed that contained data on preferences regarding biologic discontinuation (median age 36 years, 62% were females; 63% had Crohn disease; 56% were receiving a TNF antagonist, 31% VDZ, and 14% UST). Overall, 32% patients reported a preference to discontinue biologic treatment with a higher proportion among those receiving a TNF antagonist compared with VDZ/UST (39.6% vs 21.4%; P < 0.01). Current VDZ/UST use was independently associated with a reduced odds of patient-preference favoring biologic discontinuation [adjusted odds ratio: 2.67 (1.42-5.01); P < 0.01]. The most concerning factor to patients was the perceived risk of side effects. Patients on VDZ/UST perceived their therapy to be safer than those receiving a TNF antagonist (r = 0.2, P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Patient-preference favoring treatment discontinuation is improved with VDZ/UST compared with TNF-antagonist biologic therapy.

Adherence to Medical Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients from a Referral Center in Bahia-Brazil

Background/Aims. Identify the degree of adherence to drug therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases followed up at a referral center in Bahia-Brazil. Methods. Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional studies carried out from June/2017 to July/2018, with questionnaire application and medical record review at a referral center in inflammatory bowel diseases in Salvador, Bahia. The Morisky Green Levine Scale was applied to assess adherence. Mean, standard deviation, and frequency analyses were performed using the statistical package SPSS, and chi-square was used to evaluate the association between categorical variables and adherence degree to treatment. Significant associations were considered with p<0.05. Results. 302 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases were included. Nonadherence was highlighted in the sample. Most part of the study population was female, declared themselves to be mixed race, claimed to be from urban areas, and married. Nonadherence was more frequent than adherence in most sociodemographic variables of the present study. Nonadherence also stood out among the clinical variables, such as disease activity, drug side effect, and use of more than two additional medications. The association between all studied variables and adherence degree to treatment, considering the general sample, did not show statistical significance. When Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients were evaluated separately, a statistically significant association between nonadherence and female patients with ulcerative colitis was observed. Conclusions. The high frequency of nonadherence was observed in the studied sample. Female gender was associated to nonadherence in the subpopulation with ulcerative colitis.

Medication-Related Knowledge and Medication Adherence in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Non-adherence to oral maintenance therapy in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a significant healthcare problem. Knowledge of the prescribed medication can increase medication adherence. We aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and disease-related knowledge of pediatric and adolescent patients with IBD.

METHODS

We conducted a "pop quiz" to investigate the disease-related knowledge of pediatric patients with IBD who were followed-up at our institution and reviewed their medical records, including data on sex, diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and disease duration. Medication adherence was evaluated by the doctor in charge, and ≥ 80% of patients constituted the "good adherence group."

RESULTS

Of 93 patients, 59 (63.4%) were males, and 78 (83.9%) had Crohn's disease. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.8 ± 2.8 years; mean follow-up duration, 4.8 ± 3.4 years; and mean patient age, 18.6 ± 3.7 years. Only 65 patients (69.9%) knew the exact name of the medication they were currently taking, and 34 (36.6%) knew the correct dose. Only 15 patients (16.1%) knew the name of the medications they were previously taking. A total of 64 patients (66.8%) showed an adherence rate of 80% for the weekly prescribed oral medication. The patients in the poor adherence group were significantly older than those in the good adherence group (P = 0.035). The number of hospitalizations per year was statistically higher in the good adherence group (P = 0.024). The proportion of patients who knew the names of the medications they were previously taking and were aware of the side effects of the medications was significantly higher in the good adherence group (P = 0.008 and P = 0.020, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Adolescent IBD patients have lower oral medication adherence. Knowledge of the prescribed medications taken previously, and the adverse effects of these medications are associated with good adherence. IBD specialists should educate the patients regarding the disease and about their medication.

Adherence to Azathioprine/6-Mercaptopurine in Children and Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Multimethod Study

BACKGROUND

Measurement of the degree of adherence is a key element for the evaluation of treatment efficacy and safety; thus, adherence plays an important role in clinical research and practice. The aim of this study was to investigate medication adherence in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) utilizing a multimethod assessment approach. A further aim was to examine factors that can influence adherence within this population.

METHODS

Medication adherence in 47 children (age range 3 to 17 years) with IBD in three centers in Northern Ireland and Jordan was assessed via subjective (parent and child versions of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) specific questionnaire) and objective methods, that is, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of the 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) metabolites in packed red blood cell samples taken during a clinic visit. Beliefs about prescribed medicines were also assessed in parents/guardians using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ).

RESULTS

An overall nonadherence to AZA/6-MP therapy in children with IBD was found to be 36.17% (17 out of 47 patients were classified as nonadherent using at least one of the assessment methods). A total of 41 patients (91.1%) were classified as adherent to AZA or 6-MP using the blood sampling, while adherence rates using the MARS questionnaire completed by children and parents/guardians were 60.6% and 72.7%, respectively. The latter provides a more longitudinal measure of adherence. Child self-reported nonadherence rates were significantly higher than parent/guardian reported rates (p=0.013). Binary logistic regression analysis identified age to be independently predictive of adherence, with adolescents (children aged ≥ 13 years old) more likely to be classified as nonadherent. Regarding the BMQ, when parental/guardian necessity beliefs outweighed concerns, that is, higher scores in the necessity-concern differential (NCD), adolescents were more likely to be classified as adherent.

CONCLUSION

Results provide evidence for ongoing adherence challenges in the paediatric population with IBD. It is recommended that parents/guardians (particularly of older children) and older children themselves, should receive enhanced counselling and education about their prescribed medicines.

Assessing Oral Medication Adherence and Identifying Predictors of Low Adherence in Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

BACKGROUND

Poor medication adherence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had a negative impact on disease outcomes. In this study, we aimed to determine predictors of low adherence in the Chinese IBD populations and also aimed to compare a self-reported scale to a pharmacy refill index in assessing adherence of 5-ASA and azathioprine taken by Chinese IBD patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult patients with IBD who had been taking 5-ASA or azathioprine for at least 3 months were recruited from hospital outpatient clinics. The MPR was calculated from previous six-month pharmacy refill data and the self-reported Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was issued through QR code questionnaires. Intentional and unintentional adherence scores were calculated according to specific items. Non-adherence was defined as MMAS-8 scores <6 or MPR < 0.8.

RESULTS

The response rate in the IBD patients was as high as 97%. 5-ASA non-adherence rate assessed by MPR was 30% and 37% by MMAS-8, and azathioprine non-adherence rate assessed was 33% by both MPR and MMAS-8. In a linear regression analysis, MPR value was significantly correlated with MMAS-8 score in 5-ASA group (r=0.4, p=0.003), and significantly correlated with unintentional adherence score (r=0.47, p<0.001). No significant correlation was observed between MPR value and MMAS-8 score in azathioprine group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.13; P=0.0015) and previous abdominal surgery (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.09-4.27; P=0.04) were associated with high medication adherence. While patients who had small intestine lesion (OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01-0.17; P=0.006) were associated with low adherence.

CONCLUSION

Predictors of low adherence were young age, lesions on small intestine, whereas previous abdominal surgery was a protective factor. This study also demonstrated that the MMAS-8 scale was a valid instrument for assessing 5-ASA adherence in IBD patients. Unintentional non-adherence was significantly related to the total non-adherence, which would allow to use the tool to seek ways for adherence improvement.

Factors associated with low adherence to oral 5-aminosalicylic acid in patients with ulcerative colitis

Background/Aims

It is well known that 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is the standard first-line treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). Medication adherence is an important factor in the treatment of UC. We aimed to identify predictors of low adherence to oral 5-ASA in Koreans with UC.

Methods

Between July 2017 and January 2018, we performed a multicenter, cross-sectional study across 6 University Hospitals in Korea. Medication adherence was assessed using the modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) questionnaire. Our study included 264 patients with UC. Patients were requested to complete the self-reported MMAS-8 questionnaire and a survey assessing sociodemographic data. Adherence was categorized as low (scores<6), medium (scores 6–7), and high (score 8).

Results

The mean age of patients was 44±14 years, women comprised 43.6% of the study population and 49.8% of the studied population showed low adherence to oral 5-ASA. Age <40 years, alcohol consumption, and current smoking were significantly associated with low adherence to oral 5-ASA (age <40 years: odds ratio [OR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–2.96, p = .034; alcohol consumption: OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.00–2.74, p = .049; current smoking: OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.08–15.18, p = .038). When data were classified based on gender, we observed that only in men, alcohol consumption and current smoking showed a significant association with low adherence to oral 5-ASA (alcohol consumption: OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.08–4.23, p = .029; current smoking: OR 5.07, 95% CI 1.32–19.41, p = .018). In women, only age <40 years was significantly associated with low adherence to oral 5-ASA (age <40 years: OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.59–8.66, p = .002).

Conclusion

Approximately 50% of patients with UC showed low adherence to oral 5-ASA. Predictors of low adherence were age <40 years, alcohol consumption, and current smoking habits. In men, alcohol consumption and current smoking were significant predictors of low adherence, whereas in women only age <40 years was significantly associated with low adherence.

The adherence to the therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: beyond the number of the tablets

OBJECTIVES

The therapy of the inflammatory bowel diseases is quite complex. A partial compliance increases the relapse probability and the health expenditure. The aim of the study is to correctly study the adherence to the therapy in a single centre eliminating the bias of a different relationship of trust with different doctors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a blind prospective study on the adherence evaluated for mesalazine.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy-six patients were included in the final analysis. Of the patients, 57.4% never missed a single dose of mesalazine, 29.3% missed one or two doses, 7.4% missed three to four doses, 5.9% missed more than five doses. A greater adherence among males (p = .015) and, in ulcerative colitis, among the group with a disease duration of <2 years compared to the one with a disease duration between 2 and 5 years (p = .04) were found. In Crohn's diseases, among the patients who had never undergone to surgical interventions, the adherence was 49.6%, compared to 51.9% among patients who underwent to one surgical resection and 78.6% among patients underwent to multiple surgical resections (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The factors influencing the adherence to the therapy are only partly related to the prescribed therapy, but also to factors affecting the patient life: to increase the adherence rate it would be necessary not only interventions on the posology but also the psychological support to the patient at the time of the visit.

Determining the degree of adherence to treatment in inflammatory bowel disease patients

AIM

Since the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disorder which requires continuous drug intake to induce and maintain the remission phase, finding the barriers for low adherent group, may improve the disease phase and quality of life in those patients.

BACKGROUND

IBD is defined as a chronic immune disorder with unpredictable flares. The common treatment of these diseases can be effective for inducing and maintaining remission courses. Therefore the use of long-term medication therapy is the crucial key to prevent surgery and complications in patients with IBD.

METHODS

Morisky Medication Adherence Scales (MMAS) is used for detecting level of adherence to the medicines for 137 patients with IBD. Demographic and clinical data are recorded for all patients and quality of life has been evaluated by Short-Form 36 questionnaire in 55 patients.

RESULTS

Demographic and clinical features showed no correlation with the degree of adherence. The MMAS-8 score in the low adherent group significantly different than that in the medium and high adherer group. No relation was found statistically between level of adherence and mental or physical sates (p value=0.17, 1.2) and total quality of life (p value=0.22) in patients with IBD.

CONCLUSION

Designing smart reminder and the physician's explain about adverse effects and beneficial of medicines may be effective to confront with forgetfulness and feeling comfort with treatment. Improve a strategy in order to regular measurement of adherence to medication, provides enough information about stop taking medication.