title: Longitudinal analysis of patterns and predictors of changes in self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy: Swiss HIV Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is a dynamic process, however, changes in adherence behavior over time are insufficiently understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on self-reported missed doses of cART was collected every 6 months in Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants. We identified behavioral groups associated with specific cART adherence patterns using trajectory analyses. Repeated measures logistic regression identified predictors of changes in adherence between consecutive visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six thousand seven hundred nine individuals completed 49,071 adherence questionnaires [median 8 (interquartile range: 5-10)] during a median follow-up time of 4.5 years (interquartile range: 2.4-5.1). Individuals were clustered into 4 adherence groups: good (51.8%), worsening (17.4%), improving (17.6%), and poor adherence (13.2%). Independent predictors of worsening adherence were younger age, basic education, loss of a roommate, starting intravenous drug use, increasing alcohol intake, depression, longer time with HIV, onset of lipodystrophy, and changing care provider. Independent predictors of improvements in adherence were regimen simplification, changing class of cART, less time on cART, and starting comedications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment, behavioral changes, and life events influence patterns of drug intake in HIV patients. Clinical care providers should routinely monitor factors related to worsening adherence and intervene early to reduce the risk of treatment failure and drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. tglass@uhbs.ch
authors.forename: Tracy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battegay
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavassini
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Geest
authors.forename: Hansjakob
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furrer
authors.forename: Pietro L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Vernazza
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hirschel
authors.forename: Enos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rickenbach
authors.forename: Huldrych F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Günthard
authors.forename: Heiner C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Bucher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents