title: Association between medication possession ratio, virologic failure and drug resistance in HIV-1-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy in Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adherence is a strong determinant of viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART) but measuring it is challenging. Medication delivery can be measured accurately in settings with computerized prescription databases. We studied the association between medication possession ratio (MPR), virologic suppression, and resistance to ART in Côte d'Ivoire.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study of HIV-1-infected adults initiating ART in 3 clinics using computerized monitoring systems. Patients had viral load (VL) tests at month 6 (M6) and month 12 (M12) after ART initiation and genotype tests if VL was detectable (≥300 copies/mL). MPR was defined as the number of daily doses of antiretroviral drug actually provided divided by the total number of follow-up days since ART initiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1573 patients started ART with stavudine/zidovudine plus lamivudine plus nevirapine/efavirenz. At M6 and M12, 996 and 942 patients were in active follow-up; 20% (M6) and 25% (M12) of patients had detectable VL, including 7% (M6) and 11% (M12) with ≥1 resistance mutation. Among patients with MPR of ≥95%, 80%-94%, 65%-79%, 50%-64%, and <50% at M12, the proportion with detectable VL [resistance] was 9% [4%], 17% [7%], 45% [24%], 67% [31%], and 85% [37%]. Among patients with ≥1 mutation at M12, 86% were resistant to lamivudine/emtricitabine and/or nevirapine/efavirenz but not to other drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPR was strongly associated with virologic outcomes. Half of those with detectable VL at M12 had no resistance mutations. MPR should be used at M6 to identify patients who might benefit from early interventions to reinforce adherence.
authors.affiliation: Programme PAC-CI/ANRS, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Eugène
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messou
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chaix
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabillard
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minga
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Losina
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yapo
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kouakou
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danel
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rouzioux
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Freedberg
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Anglaret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents