Frequency of medical history items, drug interactions, and lifestyle characteristics that may interfere with antiretroviral medications.
OBJECTIVE
There were two study questions: How often do HIV-infected patients present with a medical history or concurrent medication use that might contraindicate the use of one or more antiretroviral drugs? What is the frequency of patients having lifestyle behaviors that might preclude them from successfully following an antiretroviral drug regimen?


METHODS
One hundred patients were given a 52-item questionnaire that asked about their medical histories, concurrent use of non-HAART drugs, and lifestyle. The results were analyzed to determine the frequency of potential side effects, drug interactions, or lifestyle behaviors that could interfere with the patient being able to successfully adhere to antiretroviral drug regimens.


RESULTS
96% of the patients had at least one medical history item or were taking at least one medication that could potentially create a serious side effect to one or more of the 14 antiretroviral drugs that were studied. All of the patients had at least one lifestyle behavior that would have interfered with successful adherence to one or more of the drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaire utilized in the study identified potential factors that could cause medical problems or that could interfere with the successful use of various antiretroviral drugs. The frequency of occurrence of these factors was unexpectedly high.
Grimes
Richard M
RM
School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA. rgrimes@sph.uth.tmc.edu
Lal
Lincy
L
Lewis
Stanley T
ST
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000075202:Contraindications; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents