Adherence to Treatment Poor in 4 of 10 Adults With Eosinophilic Esophagitis

A cross-sectional study of adults with eosinophilic esophagitis found a 41% prevalence of poor adherence to prescribed medical and dietary maintenance treatments. Researchers published their findings in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

The study included 177 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, 71% of whom were men. The median age of patients was 43 years, reported study lead author Maria L Haasnoot, MD, and coauthors from Amsterdam University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

In addition to finding a high rate of poor adherence to medical and dietary treatments, as defined as scores below 21 on the Medication Adherence Rating Scale or Diet Adherence Rating Scale, the study found that medically treated patients were less adherent than patients prescribed dietary treatment. Just 35.1% of medically treated patients adhered to prescribed treatment compared with 41.8% of patients prescribed a diet.

Several independent factors were associated with poor treatment adherence, according to the study. Odd ratios for poor treatment adherence were 4.423 with low necessity beliefs, 2.571 with age younger than 40 years, 1.130 with longer disease duration, and 1.167 with severe symptoms per the Straumann Dysphagia Index.

“Adherence to maintenance treatment is poor in many adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis,” researchers concluded. “Clinicians should pay more attention to treatment adherence, particularly in younger patients, and discuss the necessity of treatment.”

Reference:
Haasnoot ML, Safi S, Bredenoord AJ. Poor adherence to medical and dietary treatments in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(9):1412-1418. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001850