Physician-Reported Satisfaction with, Challenges in, and Patient Adherence to, Immunosuppressive Treatment among Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results From a Real-World Survey
Author(s)
Lobat Hashemi, PhD1, Samir J. Patel, PharmD, MPH, FAST1, Timothy Horwedel, MHA, PharmD1, Emily Green, BSc2, Sarah Clayton, BSc2, Mollie Lowe, MSc2;
1Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Cary, NC, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom
1Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Cary, NC, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To describe physician-reported treatment satisfaction, challenges in current immunosuppressive therapy, and treatment adherence among kidney transplant recipients.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Kidney Transplant Disease Specific Programme™, a real-world, cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection of transplant nephrologists in the United States from September-November 2024. Physicians reported demographics, side effects, treatment adherence and satisfaction with current immunosuppressive therapy for six consecutively consulting kidney transplant recipients. Physician-reported satisfaction with current therapy was grouped into satisfied (those responding very satisfied or satisfied) and dissatisfied (those responding very dissatisfied or dissatisfied). Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Overall, 35 physicians provided data for 97 patients who had undergone a kidney transplant. Mean (standard deviation; SD) patient age was 53.9 (12.9) years and 64% were male. Mean (SD) time since kidney transplant was 2.6 (4.3) years. The most frequently prescribed immunosuppressants were tacrolimus (70% of patients), mycophenolate mofetil (63%) and corticosteroids (59%). Physicians reported high satisfaction with the efficacy of patients’ current immunosuppressive treatment (93%). However, they expressed dissatisfaction with both the number (35%) and severity (27%) of side effects experienced by patients. Physicians reported that 35% of patients experienced side effects or other challenges, commonly cardiovascular risk (27%), patient compliance (21%), tremors (18%), lack of insurance coverage (18%) and lack of treatment efficacy (15%). Furthermore, physicians reported that 33% of patients were not fully adherent to their current treatment regimen.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, physician satisfaction with prescribed therapy was high, however, for approximately a third of patients, challenges relating to side effects and treatment adherence were reported. Further research is needed to understand the impact of side effects and non-adherence on both clinical and patient-reported outcomes.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Kidney Transplant Disease Specific Programme™, a real-world, cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection of transplant nephrologists in the United States from September-November 2024. Physicians reported demographics, side effects, treatment adherence and satisfaction with current immunosuppressive therapy for six consecutively consulting kidney transplant recipients. Physician-reported satisfaction with current therapy was grouped into satisfied (those responding very satisfied or satisfied) and dissatisfied (those responding very dissatisfied or dissatisfied). Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Overall, 35 physicians provided data for 97 patients who had undergone a kidney transplant. Mean (standard deviation; SD) patient age was 53.9 (12.9) years and 64% were male. Mean (SD) time since kidney transplant was 2.6 (4.3) years. The most frequently prescribed immunosuppressants were tacrolimus (70% of patients), mycophenolate mofetil (63%) and corticosteroids (59%). Physicians reported high satisfaction with the efficacy of patients’ current immunosuppressive treatment (93%). However, they expressed dissatisfaction with both the number (35%) and severity (27%) of side effects experienced by patients. Physicians reported that 35% of patients experienced side effects or other challenges, commonly cardiovascular risk (27%), patient compliance (21%), tremors (18%), lack of insurance coverage (18%) and lack of treatment efficacy (15%). Furthermore, physicians reported that 33% of patients were not fully adherent to their current treatment regimen.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, physician satisfaction with prescribed therapy was high, however, for approximately a third of patients, challenges relating to side effects and treatment adherence were reported. Further research is needed to understand the impact of side effects and non-adherence on both clinical and patient-reported outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR81
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Adherence, Persistence, & Compliance
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Urinary/Kidney Disorders