Correlation Between Health Literacy and Tacrolimus Variability in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Abstract
Background: Adherence to immunosuppressive therapy is crucial for successful outcomes in solid organ transplantation. Tacrolimus intra-patient variability (%CV) is a validated marker of adherence and has been associated with graft outcomes. Health literacy (HL), a modifiable factor, may influence this variability, but its role remains unexplored. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including adult kidney, liver, and lung transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus. HL was assessed using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA); a score <23 indicated insufficient HL. Tacrolimus %CV was calculated over 6 months post-discharge. Linear regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, evaluated the association between HL and %CV. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included (kidney: n = 38, liver: n = 24, lung: n = 36). Patients with insufficient HL had higher %CV than those with sufficient HL (31.5% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.05). HL remained independently associated with %CV after adjusting for age and transplant type (β = -1.60, SE = 0.17, p < 0.05). The final model explained 53% of %CV variability. Conclusions: HL is independently associated with tacrolimus variability. HL screening and targeted educational interventions may help improve medication stability and long-term transplant outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{bacle2026correlation,
title = {{Correlation Between Health Literacy and Tacrolimus Variability in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients}},
author = {Astrid Bacle and Pauline Blanc-Petitjean and Elouan Demay and Sarah Pelletier and Virginie Migeot and Marie‐claude Langevin and Jean‐philippe Adam},
journal = {Clinical Transplantation},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/ctr.70304},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05399945v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Correlation Between Health Literacy and Tacrolimus Variability in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
AU - Astrid Bacle
AU - Pauline Blanc-Petitjean
AU - Elouan Demay
AU - Sarah Pelletier
AU - Virginie Migeot
AU - Marie‐claude Langevin
AU - Jean‐philippe Adam
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Clinical Transplantation
DO - 10.1111/ctr.70304
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05399945v1
AB - Background: Adherence to immunosuppressive therapy is crucial for successful outcomes in solid organ transplantation. Tacrolimus intra-patient variability (%CV) is a validated marker of adherence and has been associated with graft outcomes. Health literacy (HL), a modifiable factor, may influence this variability, but its role remains unexplored. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including adult kidney, liver, and lung transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus. HL was assessed using the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA); a score <23 indicated insufficient HL. Tacrolimus %CV was calculated over 6 months post-discharge. Linear regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, evaluated the association between HL and %CV. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included (kidney: n = 38, liver: n = 24, lung: n = 36). Patients with insufficient HL had higher %CV than those with sufficient HL (31.5% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.05). HL remained independently associated with %CV after adjusting for age and transplant type (β = -1.60, SE = 0.17, p < 0.05). The final model explained 53% of %CV variability. Conclusions: HL is independently associated with tacrolimus variability. HL screening and targeted educational interventions may help improve medication stability and long-term transplant outcomes.
SN - 0902-0063
SN - 1399-0012
ER -