Prevalence and Risk Factors of Immunosuppressant Nonadherence in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Min Zhang,1,2,* Hong Zhou,2,* Ryan S Nelson,3 Yong Han,2 Yirong Wang,1,2 Hongping Xiang,2 Jie Cai,4 Jing Zhang,4 Yonghua Yuan1 1Department of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; 4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yonghua YuanDepartment of Pharmacy, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-023-68485161Email 400766@cqmu.edu.cnBackground: Immunosuppressant nonadherence (INA) has been shown to affect outcomes after solid organ transplantation. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of INA in heart transplant recipients and the associated risk factors of INA.Methods: Adult heart transplant recipients who firstly received heart transplantation (discharged for at least 3 months) were consecutively enrolled. Immunosuppressant adherence was assessed using the Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS). INA was categorized into five domains of contributing factors (socio-demographic factors, transplant-related factors, healthcare system access factors, post-transplant treatment-related factors, and patient-related psychosocial factors). These factors were compared between adherent and nonadherent patients. The risk factors of INA were investigated by logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 168 heart recipients were ultimately included. Among them, 69 (41.1%) recipients were revealed to be nonadherent. Logistic regression analysis indicated that INA was associated with monthly income