Profiling chronic myeloid leukemia patients reporting intentional and unintentional non-adherence to lifelong therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Leuk Res. 2014 Mar;38(3):294-8. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.07.003. Epub 2013 Jul 30.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to outline key characteristics, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and symptoms, in 175 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients reporting intentional or unintentional reasons for not fully adhering to imatinib therapy. There was a significant higher proportion of males in the unintentional group (P = 0.037). Also, in this group patients were on average younger (P = 0.046). Patients reporting intentional reasons had generally a worse HRQOL profile and a higher symptom severity than those who reported unintentional reasons for non-adherence. This study suggests that patients with suboptimal adherence are not a homogenous group, thus generalized approaches to improve medication-taking behaviors are not recommended.

Keywords: Adherence to therapy; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Quality of life; Symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / physiopathology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / psychology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance / psychology*
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Quality of Life
  • Sex Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate