Abstract
Purpose
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a crucial risk factor in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antiviral therapy is very important for patients with HBV-related HCC. To maintain undetectable level of HBV DNA, patients must take nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) appropriately and regularly. We explored the adherence of Chinese patients with HBV-related HCC to antiviral treatment.
Patients and Methods
One-hundred and eighty-one patients were included in a cross-sectional study between August 2020 and February 2021. A structured questionnaire was used to interview patients, and a form was applied to collect data from electronic medical records. Medication adherence was measured using a visual analog scale. Data of the adherent group and non-adherent group were compared using Student’s t-test and the chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to explore independent risk factors that affected adherence behavior.
Results
High adherence was reported in 46.4% of patients with HBV-related HCC. Patients with high adherence were more likely to be women (P = 0.02), shun alcohol (P = 0.01), take NUCs other than entecavir (P = 0.04), and pay attention to their titer of HBV DNA (P = 0.05). Sex, alcohol consumption, and taking entecavir were independent risk factors for low adherence (P < 0.05). The prevalence of virological breakthrough was lower in patients who adhered to NUC therapy than in those who did not, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.31).
Conclusion
The adherence of patients with HBV-related HCC to NUC therapy was low. More attention should be paid to adherence of antiviral therapy in patients with HBV-related HCC.
Data Sharing Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request from 3 months to 36 months following article publication.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Jun Chen, Bin Zhang, Xinxia Wang and Qi Zhan. Although they did not participate directly in this study, their work in another study helped us to carry out this study smoothly. We thank all the patients who participated in this study.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.