This study assessed self-reported adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from underserved healthcare settings. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 102 ethnically diverse patients--70 with RA and 32 with SLE--attending rheumatology clinics at publicly funded hospitals in Houston, Texas; 43% were Hispanic, 32% African-American, and 25% White. Treatment adherence was evaluated using the compliance questionnaire rheumatology (CQR; 0, low adherence and 100, high adherence) and the questionnaire of the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG). The patients were also asked how often they forgot to take their prescribed medications or discontinued them on their own. Mean patient age was 48.5 years; 75% were female, 32% were African-American, 43% Hispanic, and 25% White. Only one third reported never forgetting to take their medications; 40% reported having stopped their medications on their own because of side effects, and 20% because of lack of efficacy. Mean CQR score was 69.1 +/- 10.5, suggesting moderate adherence overall. Differences were also observed across ethnic groups: 23% of ethnic minority patients had problems taking their medications at specified times compared to 11% of Whites (p = 0.03). Lower education and side effects were associated with lower adherence. No differences were observed between RA and SLE patients. Many patients with RA and SLE report problems with treatment adherence. These appear to be more prevalent in African Americans and Hispanics than Whites; the impact of decreased adherence on outcomes could be significant and should be considered when treating patients with RA and SLE.

Background To quantify adherence to oral therapies in ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using electronic medication monitoring, and to evaluate the clinical consequences of low adherence. Methods 107 patients with RA enrolled in a 2-year prospective cohort study agreed to have their oral RA drug therapy intake electronically monitored, with the Medication Events Monitoring System (MEMS®). Adherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and prednisone were determined as the percentage of days (or weeks for methotrexate) in which the patient took the correct dose as prescribed by the physician. Patient outcomes were assessed including the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ), the Disease Activity Index 28 (DAS28), quality of life and radiological damage using Sharp-van der Heijde scores. Results Adherence to the treatment regimen as determined by percent of correct doses was 64% for DMARDs and 70% for prednisone. Patients who had better mental health were statistically more likely to be adherent. Only 23 (21%) of the patients had an average adherence to DMARDs ≥ 80%. These patients showed significantly better disease activity scores across 2 years of follow-up than those who were less adherent (DAS28 3.3±1.3 vs. 4.1±1.2, p<0.02). Radiological scores were also worse in non-adherent patients at baseline and 12 months. Conclusions Only one fifth of the RA patients had an overall adherence of at least 80%. Less than two thirds of the prescribed DMARD doses were correctly taken. Adherent patients had lower disease activity and radiological damage scores across the 2 years of follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum leptin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Forty-one women with SLE were compared with 23 healthy women of similar age and body mass index (BMI). Clinical characteristics and Mexican systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (Mex-SLEDAI) score were assessed. Serum leptin levels (ng/dl) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparisons of leptin levels were made with the Mann-Whitney U-test. In a multiple regression analysis, those factors that could influence the leptin levels were adjusted. Patients with SLE had higher leptin levels than the control group (SLE median 31 vs control median 15, P=0.023). After adjusting by other variables, the serum leptin levels remained higher in SLE than in controls (P=0.02). Patients with SLE had no association between leptin levels and Mex-SLEDAI score, age, duration of disease, or prednisone doses. Those with SLE had higher leptin levels than controls. Further longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the role of this hormone in the exacerbations of SLE.

BACKGROUND The growing diversity of America’s population and the high burden of cancer-related symptoms reflect the need for caregiver research within underserved groups. In this longitudinal study, we assessed changes in symptom severity in caregivers and underserved minority patients diagnosed with advanced solid tumors being treated at public hospitals. METHODS 85 matched patient/caregiver dyads completed the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory 3 times during 20 weeks of chemotherapy. At each time point, we assessed symptom severity and interference with daily activities. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to classify caregivers into high or low symptom burden groups. RESULTS Sadness and distress were more prevalent among caregivers (P = .005). Symptom burden remained stable among caregivers in the high-symptom group (40%), whereas the low-symptom group (60%) showed a statistically significant decrease over time. Multivariate analysis found being a family-member caregiver (ADJ-OR 4.1; 95% CL 1.4, 11.6) and caring for a highly symptomatic patient (ADJ-OR 8.0; 95% CL 1.5, 41.4), rather than race, ethnicity, or sociodemographic characteristics, were significant predictors of the caregiver’s membership in the high symptom burden group. CONCLUSIONS Forty percent of the caregivers in this study were at increased risk for moderate to severe sadness and distress, which remained severe throughout the patient’s treatment course at public hospitals. To our knowledge, this study marks the first time that the concept of symptom burden has been used to measure caregiver burden, and the first time that symptom burden has been measured and documented in dyads of caregivers and underserved minority patients.

Electronic monitoring demonstrated that only one-fourth of the patients had an adherence rate ≥80%. Polypharmacy and depression were associated with non-adherence.