title: Rate and predictors of optimal virologic response to antiretroviral therapy in Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the rate of optimal response to antiretroviral therapy and its predictors in Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed. The medical records of all patients at three major HIV clinics in different areas of Colombia, South America, were reviewed. Eligible patients met the following criteria: (1) viral load test available while on therapy; and (2) patients must have been on a stable first antiviral regimen for at least 1 year (48 weeks). Optimal virologic response was defined as a viral load <400 copies/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty patients were eligible for the study. The optimal virologic response rate was 40% (95% confidence interval 34-46%). Younger age (p=0.02) and western region of the country (p=0.026) were the only significant predictors of non-optimal response in bivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed younger age (p=0.0054) and geographic area (p=0.0468) as independent predictors of non-optimal response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimal response rate in some areas of Colombia seems lower than that reported for other areas of the developing world. Poorer virologic responses were observed in younger patients and in those from the western region of the country.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia. cdiazgr@emory.edu
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Diazgranados
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roncancio
authors.forename: Pierina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diruggiero
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mantilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents