Adherence to hydroxyurea and clinical outcomes among children with sickle cell anemia
Children with sickle cell anemia often experience severe vaso-occlusive pain crises and acute chest syndrome. However, the risk of these complications can be reduced through the medication hydroxyurea. A recent study, led by CHEAR faculty Sarah Reeves, PhD, MPH, and Kevin Dombkowski, DrPH, MS showed that a high level of adherence to hydroxyurea was essential to achieve a lower incidence of adverse clinical outcomes in pediatric patients. Further, nonadherence to hydroxyurea may be more common in children than previously demonstrated. This study highlights the need for collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including parents, children, providers, pharmacists, and health plans, to develop strategies to improve hydroxyurea adherence.
Collaborators: Reeves SL, Dombkowski KJ, Peng HK, Phan H, Kolenic G, Creary SE, Madden B, Lisabeth LD
