Investigation of lung transplant recipients' medical treatment compliance and gastrointestinal symptoms in the long term: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aims to examine lung transplant recipients' adherence to the drug regimen, and gastrointestinal disorders that they suffered. The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional research comprised 58 lung transplant recipients who were discharged from the hospital. In the data collection process, we used the socio-demographic and health-related characteristics information form, the immunosuppressant therapy adherence scale, the Morisky medication adherence scale, and the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale. In the data analysis, we utilized descriptive statistical methods, Mann Whitney U and Spearman correlation. The mean age of lung transplant recipients was 44.37 ± 9.18 years, and of all participant lung transplant recipients, 53.4% were female, 65.5% were struggling with comorbidities, 51.7% underwent lung transplantation >5 years ago, 17.2% were oxygen-dependent, 51.7% had coughs, 31% had dyspnea, and 29.3% had hypertension. All lung transplant recipients were using corticosteroids while 91.4% of them were using tacrolimus. We found statistically significant connections between the use of mycophenolate mofetil and constipation, between the use of tacrolimus and diarrhea, and between the use of amlodipine and gastroesophageal reflux in lung transplant recipients. Lung transplant recipients' adherence to immunosuppressants and other medications was above average. The medications used were associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings of our study highlight that lung transplant recipients' in-home care and treatment needs continue.

Keywords: gastrointestinal disorders; immunosuppressants; lung transplantation; recipients; therapy adherence.