Resumo

FERREIRA, Manuel Branco et al. Subcutaneous specific immunotherapy: What is the persistence and adherence of patients in real-life?. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.3, pp.177-186. ISSN 0871-9721.

Background: In prolonged therapies, persistence and adherence to therapy are crucial. Nevertheless there are surprisingly few studies assessing persistence and adherence to subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Aim: Assess persistence and adherence to SCIT in a population of SCIT -treated patients regularly followed in a hospital Allergology outpatient department. Methods: Retrospective study, assessing in May/2011 how many patients persisted receiving SCIT injections, in relation to the total number of patients that in May/2010 had received a SCIT injection in our Allergology outpatient department. We evaluated differences in demographic and clinical aspects of those patients who persisted under SCIT versus those who didn’t persist. Additionally, in patients who persisted, we describe the cumulative dose that they received and compare it to the expected dose, according to the type of vaccine. Results: Of the 220 patients that received a SCIT injection in May/2010, 128 (58%) persisted in receiving this therapy during the following year. We didn’t observe any significant differences according to sex or age. We found a lesser persistence in patients under grass-SCIT (48%) and a higher persistence in patients with both asthma and rhinitis (63%), in patients who were treated with two or more drugs (66%) and in patients who reported clinical improvement in the days following SCIT injections (62%). 119/128 patients received cumulative doses higher than 70% of expected doses and 69/128 patients received a cumulative dose higher than 90% of expected doses, representing a good adherence to SCIT schemes. Conclusions: Persistence with SCIT injections during one year occurs in at least 58% of patients, with a good adherence to the proposed schedules, which compares favorably to other treatments for allergic diseases. More studies are needed to compare between persistence and adherence to different therapies to allow for this important aspect to be taken in consideration in therapeutic choices

Palavras-chave : Adherence; allergy; persistence; specific immunotherapy.

        · resumo em Português     · texto em Português     · Português ( pdf )