Improvement of medication adherence with simplified once-daily immunosuppressive regimen in stable kidney transplant recipients: A prospective cohort study

摘要

BackgroundMany immunosuppressive drugs are prescribed as twice-daily dosing. A simplified once-daily dosing of immunosuppressive drug regimen may improve medication adherence. We investigated medication adherence of simplified once-daily immunosuppressive regimen consisting of extended-release tacrolimus, sirolimus, and corticosteroids along with the efficacy and safety of this regimen.MethodsThis study was a prospective, multicenter, controlled and cohort trial. Stable kidney transplant recipients who had received transplantation at least 3 months before the study enrollment were eligible for the study. Participants were required to fill-out the self-reported immunosuppressant therapy barrier scale (ITBS) questionnaire before and after the conversion. Other clinical laboratory parameters and adverse events were evaluated until 6 months post-conversion.ResultsA total of 160 kidney recipients comprised the intention-to-treat population. The mean total ITBS score was 19.5?±?4.0 at pre-conversion and 6 months after converting, the mean total ITBS score was 16.6?±?3.6 (p?