Adherence to laboratory testing in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1111/petr.13899

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this retrospective cohort study are to describe rates of adherence to laboratory testing 6 months to 3 years post-liver transplantation and to examine demographic and clinical factors related to lab non-adherence and the association with medication adherence and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: Medical chart review was conducted for 54 youth (mean age = 5.0 years) transplanted between 2003 and 2014. Lab adherence (≥80%) was measured as the proportion of completed labs out of the number expected. Immunosuppressant drug-level variability was used as a proxy for medication adherence. Clinical outcomes included LAR, viral infection, hospitalization, and non-routine clinic visit ≥12 months after transplant.

RESULTS: Lab adherence decreased substantially over time. Single-parent household (aOR 5.86; 95% CI: 1.38-24.93) and no history of early rejection (aOR 3.96; 95% CI: 1.04-15.24) were independently associated with non-adherence. Lab non-adherence was significantly associated with medication non-adherence (P < .05), LAR (P = .02), and non-routine clinic visits (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS: Systematic monitoring of lab adherence may help in identifying pediatric LT recipients at increased risk for excessive healthcare use and adverse outcomes possibly due to poor disease management.

Journal Title

Pediatric transplantation

Volume

25

Issue

3

First Page

13899

Last Page

13899

Keywords

compliance/adherence; healthcare utilization; laboratory monitoring; pediatric liver transplantation

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