Adherence rates with infliximab therapy in Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with non-adherence to treatment with oral medications.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the intravenous infliximab adherence rate and identify risk factors for non-adherence to treatment.


METHODS
Infliximab infusion dates for 1 June 2002-30 October 2003 were obtained. Additional information was obtained from two other administrative and patient-based databases. Non-adherence was defined as a 'No Show' designation for a scheduled appointment. Non-adherence rate, odds ratios for associations to 'No Show' appointments and analysis were performed to identify patient characteristics associated with non-adherent behaviour.


RESULTS
One thousand hundred and eighty-five infliximab infusions were scheduled for 274 patients. Forty-eight (4%) of appointments were classified as 'No Show'. Six patients accounted for 13/48 (27%) of failed appointments; another 35 patients missed one appointment. 'No Show' appointments were more likely to be for female patients, those on concomitant immunomodulators and those >18 weeks from initial infusion. Patients who missed >1 appointment were more likely to be female and have Medicaid vs. those with only one missed appointment (P < 0.05). Indication, patient area code and race were not significantly associated with single or repeated No Show behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the non-adherence rate for infliximab is low. Risk factors that may contribute to non-adherence to treatment include female gender and maintenance dosing.
Kane
S
S
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. skane@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Dixon
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab