Antiretroviral use and pharmacy-based measurement of adherence in postpartum HIV-infected women.
BACKGROUND
Antiretroviral treatment for HIV-infected women is standard during pregnancy to prevent vertical transmission, but data on postpartum therapy for the mother are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of provider and patient characteristics on receipt of antiretroviral therapy and pharmacy-based measurement of adherence by postpartum HIV-infected women.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
The study included 2,648 New York State Medicaid-enrolled HIV-infected women who delivered from January 1993 through October 1996 and were followed up through September 1997.


METHODS
From Medicaid claims in the first postpartum year, the study examined any prescribed antiretroviral therapy and, among women treated >2 months, adherence, defined as > or =80% days covered by prescribed therapy from first to last antiretroviral prescription.


RESULTS
Antiretroviral therapy was prescribed for 681 (26%) study women. Of 292 women treated >2 months, 28% were adherent on the basis of the pharmacy-based measure. The proportion of treated women was highest in 1996 (40%), and adherence was best in 1995 (44%) when most women took monotherapy. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of treatment were 1.67 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.25) for women receiving HIV-focused services and 2.71 (95% CI, 1.99 to 3.69) for women with a provider in an HIV-related specialty. The AORs of adherence were greater for women with HIV-focused services (2.13; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.30) and for former illicit drug users versus nonusers (2.40; 95% CI, 1.05 to 5.50).


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based pharmacy analysis reveals improving antiretroviral use but continuing poor pharmacy-based adherence by postpartum HIV-infected women. Receipt of HIV-focused services appears to be particularly beneficial in increasing the likelihood of treatment and adherence.
Turner
B J
BJ
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. bturner@mail.med.upenn.edu
Newschaffer
C J
CJ
Zhang
D
D
Cosler
L
L
Hauck
W W
WW
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents