Relationship Between Single Tablet Antiretroviral Regimen and Adherence to Antiretroviral and Non-Antiretroviral Medications Among Veterans' Affairs Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Several antiretrovirals (ART) have been coformulated as single tablet regimens (STR). Study objectives were to compare ART and non-ART adherence between STR and multiple tablet regimens (MTR) recipients, determine whether STR independently predicts ART adherence, and determine whether ART adherence influences non-ART adherence. A retrospective cohort study was performed among Upstate New York Veterans' Healthcare Administration (VISN-2) patients from 2000 to 2013. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, receipt of ≥3 ART medications for ≥3 months, and available pharmacy refill records. The two study outcomes were adherence to ART medications and non-ART medications. Adherence was determined with pharmacy refill records that were used to calculate medication possession ratios. Among the 1202 subjects, there were 165 (13.7%) STR and 1037 (86.3%) MTR recipients. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) ART adherence was significantly higher for STR recipients (81.5% ± 15.3%) than MTR recipients (66.1% ± 21.1%), p < 0.001. Use of STR [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.84-8.65, p < 0.001] was independently associated with optimal (≥90%) adherence to ART. Mean ± SD non-ART adherence did not differ between STR (78.8% ± 15.6%) and MTR recipients (80.8% ± 16.0%), p = 0.17. Optimal adherence to ART medications (aOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.57-3.38, p < 0.001) was independently associated with optimal adherence to non-ART medications. The use of STRs are associated with optimal adherence to ART medications, but not directly associated with adherence to non-ART medications.

Growing up with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-A life not expected

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the lived experience of young adults with perinatally acquired HIV (PaHIV).

BACKGROUND

With the advancement of the highly active antiretroviral treatment, PaHIV infection has transformed into a chronic lifelong illness that is faced by young adults who grew up with HIV. The known challenges that are associated with HIV are poverty, stigma and social and emotional isolation.

DESIGN

This was a qualitative single-interview study of a convenience sample of PaHIV-infected young adults receiving care at a large metropolitan pediatric hospital.

METHODS

The participants had individual face-to-face interviews which were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Themes were developed to describe their living space, and Max Van Manen's lifeworld guide was used to describe their lived experience.

FINDINGS

Seventeen participants (eight males/nine females) were enrolled. Four major themes emerged: (i) limited social capital, especially when orphaned participants reflected on a life void of parental guidance; (ii) incomplete education and unemployment, participants described an idle existence; (iii) a harsh life, described as participants facing difficulties meeting their life's milestones; (iv) unanticipated adult issues, where participants described their limited ability to care for themselves and their children. Van Manen lifeworld themes also described the space they occupied, their memories growing up with PaHIV, their health care and relationships.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a valuable insight into the social and emotional difficulties faced by youth with PaHIV. The findings underscore the importance of extensive support and coordination of services between adult and pediatric providers to optimize long-term outcomes among young adults with PaHIV.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The young adults with PaHIV require close attention and support from the healthcare providers, who can offer them a safe space to discuss lived experiences and support their ability to achieve full lives.

Association between depression and nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women with perinatally acquired HIV

Women with perinatally acquired HIV (PAH) face unique psychosocial challenges due to the presence of a lifelong chronic illness and often unstable living situations. With advances in HIV treatment, an increasing number of those with PAH are reaching childbearing age and becoming pregnant. Depression may be an important and common factor that complicates both treatment and pregnancy outcomes in this group. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in pregnant patients with PAH to determine if history of depression is associated with nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). We reviewed charts of women with PAH receiving prenatal care at a single institution from March 1995 to December 2012. ART nonadherence was measured by patient self-report of any missed doses in the third trimester. Demographic, obstetric, and HIV infection characteristics of patients with a history of depression (dPAH) were compared to patients without a history of depression. Nine pregnancies among 6 dPAH women and 14 pregnancies among 12 PAH women without a history of depression were identified. None of the dPAH women reported 100% adherence to ART in the third trimester while 57% of women without a history of depression reported strict adherence (p = 0.04). The mean HIV RNA level at delivery was higher among dPAH women (17,399 vs. 2966 copies/Ml; p = 0.03) and fewer reached an undetectable HIV RNA level (<400 copies/mL) at delivery (p = 0.03). We concluded that a history of depression may contribute to poor medication adherence and treatment outcomes among pregnant women with PAH. Focused attention on diagnosis and treatment of depression in the preconception period may lead to more optimal medication adherence.