Evaluation of medication adherence in Familial Mediterranean Fever patients transitioned from pediatric rheumatology clinic to adult rheumatology clinic

EVALUATION OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER PATIENTS TRANSITIONED FROM PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC TO ADULT RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC Aim: The aim was to evaluate the medication adherence of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients who transitioned from pediatric to adult clinics. Material and Method: The study included 256 AAA patients who were transitioned from the Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic to the Adult Rheumatology Clinic and received AAA treatment between 2017-2024. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of the patients were examined. The Turkish version of the Medication Adherence Scale FMF, consisting of 18 questions, was applied to the patients. A score of 60 and above was considered high medication adherence, and a score below 60 was considered low medication adherence. The score distributions of both groups were examined. Results: 39.6% (n=102) of the patients had high medication adherence, while 60.4% (n=154) had low medication adherence. The mean age at diagnosis was 18.6±5.34 in the high medication adherence group and 16.34±4.93 in the low medication adherence group and was significantly higher in the first group (p<0.001). The mean duration of disease was 18.8±4.93 years in the high medication adherence group and 16.3±4.93 years in the low medication adherence group and was significantly higher in the first group (p<0.001). The rate of those treated with anti-IL-1 agents was 20.5% (n=21) in patients with high medication adherence and 8.4% (n=13) in patients with low medication adherence. Medication adherence was higher in those receiving anti-IL-1 (p=0.005). In both the high and low medication adherence groups, the lowest average judgment was found to be "7. I wish this disease could be treated without medication.", and the highest average judgment was found to be "1. I know my disease and I am aware that my treatment will continue for a very long time." A significant difference was found between the average scores obtained from the judgments (p<0.001). Conclusion: There is a problem of medication adherence in transition patients. While awareness of the disease positively affects adherence, the expectation of drug-free treatment negatively affects adherence. Keywords: Familial Mediterranean Fever, transitional care, medication adherence