How adherent to treatment with azathioprine are patients with Crohn's disease in long-term remission?

Background: Patients with longstanding quiescent Crohn's disease on azathioprine usually maintain an excellent quality of life but are also concerned about long-term safety. This may affect adherence to treatment. The aim of the present study was to assess the adherence to azathioprine in a cohort of patients with Crohn's disease in long-term remission. Methods: Thirty patients with Crohn's disease in remission on azathioprine for >= 48 months were enrolled in the study. All were asked to record the number of azathioprine tablets they consumed daily. Notes were kept every other month for 6 months. Adherence was defined as consumption of >= 80% of medication. Results: Most patients (18/28, 74.3%) were not adherent to treatment. The mean (+/- SD) daily dose of azathioprine in adherent and nonadherent patients was 145 +/- 45 mg and 102 +/- 20 mg, respectively. However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the mean IBDQ score and mean Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score, both throughout the entire study and at each time point of the study. Male gender, single status. and consumption of >5 concomitant medications were associated with nonadherence. Conclusions: Most patients with Crohn's disease in longstanding remission had low self-reported adherence to azathioprine. Both male gender and single status were associated with nonadherence to azathioprine, whereas disease factors were not related to self-reported adherence. Patients considered nonadherent to treatment maintained disease remission and a quality of life similar to patients who were adherent to treatment.