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Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Thornburg, CD; Calatroni, A; Telen, M; Kemper, AR
Published in: J Pediatr
March 2010

OBJECTIVES: To assess adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA), evaluate the association between adherence and hematologic profile, and identify barriers and facilitators of adherence. STUDY DESIGN: Children with SCA (n=75) receiving hydroxyurea were recruited for a single-institution cross-sectional study. The primary outcome was association between treatment adherence and percent fetal hemoglobin (HbF). RESULTS: Good adherence was estimated at 82% with visual analog scale, 84% with Morisky score, 85% with medical provider report, 77% with clinic visits, and 49% on the basis of pharmacy refills. Increase in HbF was moderately associated with good adherence as measured with the parent/proxy Morisky score (r=-0.39; 95% CI, -0.58-0.17; P < .01) and prescription refills (r=0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-0.57; P < .01). The number of pharmacy refills and the Morisky score explained 23% of the variation in HbF response. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence was > or =75% with 4 of 5 measures. Pharmacy refills and the Modified Morisky Scale may be used to identify children at high risk for poor response because of non-adherence and children with good adherence with poor response because of individual pharmacodynamics. Future research should prospectively compare adherence measures and evaluate methods to improve treatment adherence.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

EISSN

1097-6833

Publication Date

March 2010

Volume

156

Issue

3

Start / End Page

415 / 419

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • Parents
  • Pain Measurement
  • Medication Adherence
  • Male
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Fetal Hemoglobin
 

Citation

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Thornburg, C. D., Calatroni, A., Telen, M., & Kemper, A. R. (2010). Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia. J Pediatr, 156(3), 415–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.09.044
Thornburg, Courtney D., Agustin Calatroni, Marilyn Telen, and Alex R. Kemper. “Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia.J Pediatr 156, no. 3 (March 2010): 415–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.09.044.
Thornburg CD, Calatroni A, Telen M, Kemper AR. Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia. J Pediatr. 2010 Mar;156(3):415–9.
Thornburg, Courtney D., et al. “Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia.J Pediatr, vol. 156, no. 3, Mar. 2010, pp. 415–19. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.09.044.
Thornburg CD, Calatroni A, Telen M, Kemper AR. Adherence to hydroxyurea therapy in children with sickle cell anemia. J Pediatr. 2010 Mar;156(3):415–419.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

EISSN

1097-6833

Publication Date

March 2010

Volume

156

Issue

3

Start / End Page

415 / 419

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • Parents
  • Pain Measurement
  • Medication Adherence
  • Male
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Fetal Hemoglobin