title: Measuring adherence to antiretroviral treatment: the role of pharmacy records of drug withdrawals.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) among HIV + adults, assess its association with HIV viral load (VL) and identify factors associated to adherence. A survey involving a random sample of adults followed at a HIV/AIDS reference center in São Paulo city, Brazil, from 2007 to 2009 was done. A questionnaire was applied and data were retrieved from the pharmacy and medical records. The study involved 292 subjects: 70.2% men; median age: 43 years; median duration of ART: 8 years. 89.3% self-reported taken all prescribed pills in the last 3 days but only 39.3% picked up ≥95% of the prescribed ART from the pharmacy in the last 12 months. At the multivariate analysis having symptoms prior to ART, taking fewer ART pills, and not missing medical appointments were independently associated to higher adherence. Adherence was strongly associated with undetectable HIV VL. Rates of undetectable HIV VL did not differ from 80 to ≥95% of adherence.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Extensão ao Atendimento a Pacientes HIV/AIDS, Clínica de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil. elianabg@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Eliana Battaggia
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Ana Marli Christovam
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Ana Lucia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Bruna Mamprim
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Piloto
authors.forename: Bruna Biagi
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Adriana Santos
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Adriana Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pouza
authors.forename: Roberta Vilela
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Melo Picone
authors.forename: Manoel Carlos Sampaio
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Almeida Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D011996:Records; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents