title: Persistent HIV Viremia: Description of a Cohort of HIV Infected Individuals with ART Failure in Puerto Rico.
abstract: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has allowed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppression in patients. We present data of a cohort of Puerto Rican patients with HIV who were under treatment with a steady regime of ART across a time horizon of eleven years. The time periods were categorized into four year stratums: 2000 to 2002; 2003 to 2005; 2006 to 2008 and 2009 to 2011. Socio-demographic profile, HIV risk factors, co-morbid conditions were included as study variables. One year mortality was defined. The p value was set at ≤0.05. The cohort consisted of 882 patients with 661 subjects presenting with persistent HIV viral load after a self-reported 12 month history of ART use. In this sub-cohort a higher viral load was seen across time (p < 0.05). Illicit drug use, IV drug use, alcohol use, loss of work were associated to having higher viral load means (p < 0.05). HIV viral load mean was lower as BMI increased (p < 0.001). It is imperative to readdress antiretroviral adherence protocols and further study ART tolerance and compliance.
authors.affiliation: Data Management and Statistical Research Support Unit, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón 00960, Puerto Rico. geronimo.maldonado@uccaribe.edu.
authors.forename: Gerónimo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maldonado-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón 00960, Puerto Rico. robert.hunter@uccaribe.edu.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hunter-Mellado
authors.affiliation: Data Management and Statistical Research Support Unit, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón 00960, Puerto Rico. diana.fernandez@uccaribe.edu.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández-Santos
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón 00960, Puerto Rico. eddy.rios@uccaribe.edu.
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ríos-Olivares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014766:Viremia / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: ART; HIV; Puerto Rico; mean viral load; viremia