Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of aminosalicylates as first-line therapy to induce and maintain remission in ulcerative colitis.
1-5 These well-designed multicenter trials have used pill count and patient inquiry to assess adherence, with rates ranging from 70% to >95%. Based upon community-based follow-up studies in other chronic illnesses, the percentage of long-term adherence tends to be much lower, about 40% to 50%.
6 This wide variance across studies can be explained by 1) a study’s definition of adherence, 2) the degree to which the investigators were proactive…