Ari Pollack
Medication and lifestyle non-adherence is common in adolescent populations with chronic disease processes. A 2003 World Heath suggests only 50% adherence to longterm therapy for chronic illnesses in developed countries. Addressing this issue in adolescents is even more challenging as a result of developmental, social and familial factors[6]. It has been estimated that medication non adherence is a significant problem in 15-30% of American children with a chronic disease. Pediatric nephrology, the field of medicine that takes care of children and adolescents with kidney disease, follows a variety of different populations at risk for non-adherence including patients with hypertension, those on dialysis or status post kidney transplant. Multiple studies have shown that improved medication adherence in all three populations leads to improved outcomes. In addition, the costs for non adherence can be extremely high, especially for the transplant population where non-adherence to immunosuppressive therapy can lead to acute rejection and ultimately the loss of the transplanted kidney.
Medication and lifestyle non-adherence is common in adolescent populations with chronic disease processes. A 2003 World Heath suggests only 50% adherence to longterm therapy for chronic illnesses in developed countries. Addressing this issue in adolescents is even more challenging as a result of developmental, social and familial factors[6]. It has been estimated that medication non adherence is a significant problem in 15-30% of American children with a chronic disease. Pediatric nephrology, the field of medicine that takes care of children and adolescents with kidney disease, follows a variety of different populations at risk for non-adherence including patients with hypertension, those on dialysis or status post kidney transplant. Multiple studies have shown that improved medication adherence in all three populations leads to improved outcomes. In addition, the costs for non adherence can be extremely high, especially for the transplant population where non-adherence to immunosuppressive therapy can lead to acute rejection and ultimately the loss of the transplanted kidney.