| Name | Wenyue Lu |
| Institution | Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Center for Asian Health |
| Research Field | Population Research |
| Role at Institution | Graduate Student |
| Presenter(s) | Wenyue Lu |
Depression Significantly Predicted Poor Medication Adherence Among Asian Americans Living with Chronic Hepatitis B: A Longitudinal Study
Di Zhu, BS;1 Wenyue Lu, ML; 1,2 Lin Zhu, PhD;1,3 Elizabeth Handorf, PhD;4 Yin Tan, MD, MPH;1 Ming-Chin Yeh, PhD;5 Minhhuyen T. Nguyen, MD;6 Grace X. Ma, PhD;1,3
1 Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2 Department of Sociology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
3 Department of Urban Health and Population Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
4 Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
5 Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
6 Department of Medicine, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
Introduction: Asian Americans is a Hepatitis B (HBV) disparity population who only account for 6% of the US population but experience a 60% burden of having HBV, which is associated with 75% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Adherence to HBV medication is a practical approach to prevent liver cancer. However, limited studies have been conducted on the impacts of depression on HBV medication adherence among underserved Asian American HBV patients.
Methods: This study utilized 12-m follow up data from a randomized controlled clinical trial aimed at improving long-term adherence to HBV medication adherence. Eligible Asian American HBV patients were recruited from the Greater Philadelphia Area and New York City. HBV medication adherence was assessed using the Morisky 8-Item Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), and depression was measured with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Results: Among 154 participants (118 Chinese and 36 Vietnamese), 43.57% were female, and 56.49% were male. Nearly all the participants reported having health insurance (92.21%) and having a physician to visit regularly (95.21%). Bivariate analysis showed that depression was negatively significantly associated with medication adherence score (r=-0.55, p<0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that medication adherence score was associated with being in intervention group (Coef. 0.58, 95% CI: 0.10-1.05), Vietnamese ethnicity (Coef. 0.55, 95% CI: -0.02-1.13), and depression severity score (Coef.-0.16, 95% CI: 4.02-6.89), respectively, controlling for demographic covariates.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that depression level has significant impacts on medication taking adherence, implying that targeted interventions addressing psychosocial barriers would be effective in promoting HBV medication adherence among underserved Asian Americans.
Acknowledgment: This project was supported by the TUFCCC/HC Regional Comprehensive Cancer Health Disparity Partnership, Award Number U54 CA221704(5) from the National Cancer Institute of National Institutes of Health (NCI/NIH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the American Heart Association or NCI/NIH.