Increased adherence eight months after switch from twice daily calcineurin inhibitor based treatment to once daily modified released tacrolimus in heart transplantation

Figures & data

Figure 1 Pre-experimental design.

Notes: Timeline of study protocol. Seventy-two patients were available for statistical analysis due to discontinuation of modified-release tacrolimus in four patients.
Abbreviations: M, month; D, day; CNI, calcineurin inhibitor.

Table 1 Patient characteristics (n=76)

Parameter	Baseline
Mean age (±SD, years)	46.0 ± 14.4
Mean time post HTx (±SD, years)	4.8 ± 4.4
Females (n, %)	18, 23.7
Males (n, %)	58, 76.3
Parameter (±SD)	Baseline (n=72)	Month 8 (n=72)	Level of significance
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	12.6 ± 2.0	12.9 ± 1.8	all P=NS
Leucocytes (/nL)	6.8 ± 2.8	6.8 ± 2.4
Thrombocytes (/nL)	226.2 ± 68.9	224.5 ± 68.7
GOT (units/L)	26.5 ± 14.8	26.2 ± 12.4
GPT (units/L)	30.1 ± 25.1	29.7 ± 14.0
GGT (units/L)	80.2 ± 158.0	80.2 ± 122.4
Creatinine (mg/dL)	1.6 ± 1.0	1.4 ± 0.4
Urea (mg/dL)	60.2 ± 21.2	55.9 ± 18.4
Parameter (±SD)	Day 7 (n=72)	Month 8 (n=72)	Level of significance
Tacrolimus dose (mg/day)	4.5 ± 3.0	3.9 ± 2.1	P=0.003
Tacrolimus trough level (μg/L)	6.5 ± 1.8	6.3 ± 2.0	P=NS

Abbreviations: n, number; SD, standard deviation; HTx, heart transplant; GOT, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase/aspartate transaminase; GPT, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase/alanine transaminase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; NS, not significant.

Figure 2 Overall self-reported adherence at baseline and 8 months after conversion to modified-release tacrolimus (BAASIS).

Note: Lower scores indicate better adherence.
Abbreviation: Baasis, Basel assessment of adherence with immunosuppressive Medication scale.

Figure 3 Overall self-reported adherence at baseline and 8 months after conversion to modified-release tacrolimus (BAASIS-VAS scale).

Notes: Scores are ± standard deviation. Higher scores indicate better adherence.
Abbreviations: Baasis, Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale; VAS, visual analog scale.

Figure 4 Modified-release tacrolimus doses and levels at day 7 and month 8 after conversion to modified-release tacrolimus.

Notes: (A) Mean daily modified-release TAC dose (mg) (±standard deviation) 7 days and 8 months after conversion. (B) Mean modified-release TAC level (μg/L) (±standard deviation) 7 days and 8 months after conversion.
Abbreviation: TAC, tacrolimus.