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Table 2 Study characteristics

From: Factors influencing adherence in Hepatitis-C infected patients: a systematic review

Study

Study type

Number of patients

Observation period

Inclusion criteria

Setting/country

Adherence measurement

Adherence operationalization

Adherence rate of patients

Giannelli 2012 [21]

Cohort study

342

48 week

Transplantation for hepatitis-C virus-related liver disease

Liver transplantation centre/Italy

NR

Patients taking ≥80% of doses (ribavirin and interferon)

0.38

Transplanted for at least 6 months

Positive test for anti-hepatitis-C virus and hepatitis-C virus RNA

Liver biopsy demonstrating a recurrence of chronic hepatitis-C

Treated with ribavirin plus peg-interferon interferon

No coexistent hepatitis-B

No cirrhosis

Lo Re [4]

Cohort study

5706

90 days

US veterans

Veterans affairs medical facilities/USA

Pill count

Doses taken (ribavirin)

0.86

Hepatitis-C virus infected

Genotype 1, 2, 3, or 4

At least one prescription each for peg-interferon and ribavirin

Viral load prior to hepatitis-C virus therapy

Viral load after treatment initiation

Not HIV-infected

Marcellin 2011 [8]

Cohort study

1510

6 month follow-up after end of treatment

Chronic hepatitis-C

University hospitals, non-University hospitals and private practice offices, hospitals/France

Self-report (doses taken)

Patients taking 100% of doses (peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin)

0.38

≥18 years

Initiating therapy

Therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin

Martín-Santos 2008 [22]

Cohort study

146

4-24 weeks

Chronic Hepatitis-C

Hospitals/Spain

NR

Patients taking ≥80% of doses (ribavirin)

0.89

Therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin

Substance abuse abstinence ≥ 6 months

No cognitive or language difficulties

No other liver diseases

No co-infection with hepatitis-B or HIV

No hepatocellular carcinoma

No autoimmune disorders

Neutrophil count f >1.5 × 109⁄l

Platelet count of >75 × 109⁄l

No psychiatric disorders other than affective disorders

Rodis [23]

Cohort study

12

3 month

NR

Interdisciplinary HCV education and monitoring service/USA

Self-report (Morisky scale, Brief medication questionnaire)

Doses taken (interferon and ribavirin)

1.00

Sola [24]

Cohort study

157

72 weeks

Chronic Hepatitis-C and hepatitis-C virus RNA positive in plasma

Hospitals/Spain

Self-report via daily questionnaire (ribavirin and interferon)

Pill counts (ribavirin)

Patients taking ≥80% of doses (ribavirin and interferon)

0.76

≥18 years

Elevated alanin-aminotransferase levels

Findings on liver biopsy consistent with presence of chronic hepatitis-C , and compensated liver disease

CD4 cell count >200 × 106/mm3 regardless of plasma HIV RNA level or CD4 cell count <200 × 106/mm3 wiimes;th undetectable HIV RNA level

Neutrophil count ≥1500/mm3; platelet count ≥70,000/mm3; hemoglobin level ≥11 g/dl for women, or ≥12 g/dl for men

No previous treatment with interferon or ribavirin

No hepatitis-A or –B co-infection

No liver disease

No decompensated cirrhosis

No pregnancy

No active drug or alcohol consumption within the last 6 months

Potential contraindications to interferon or ribavirin

Sylvestre [25]

Cohort study

71

48 weeks

Hepatitis-C

Clinic/USA

Self-report by monthly questionnaire

Pill count

Patients taking >80% of doses (interferon alpha -2b and ribavirin)

0.68

≥18 years

Maintained on methadone for 3 months

At least 75% attendance at our weekly clinics for a period of at least 2 months

No other liver disease

No untreated depression

Tanioka [26]

Cohort study

363

8 months

Hepatitis-C

Hospitals/Japan

NR

Patients taking >80% of doses (interferon alpha -2b and ribavirin)

0.52

≥18 years

Aminotransferase above the upper normal limit in the 6 months before entry in to the study

Compensated liver function with normal levels of serum albumin, prothrombin time and serum bilirubin

No chronic liver diseases

No injected drugs or abused alcohol within the previous 6 months

No poorly controlled psychiatric illness

Not HIV positive

No cirrhosis

Wagner [27]

Cross-sectional study

72

NA

Hepatitis-C virus

Veterans administration

Self-report (VAS)

Patients taking 100% of doses (peg-interferon and ribavirin)

0.94

HIV

Interferon based hepatitis-C virus treatment

Medical center/USA

  1. NA: not applicable; NR: not reported.