title: Persistence to single-tablet regimen versus less-drug regimen in treatment experienced HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decreased antiretroviral therapy persistence is associated with increased rates of virologic failure, development of antiretroviral resistance, and increased morbidity and mortality. Different therapeutic strategies, such as single-tablet regimens (STR) and less-drug regimens (LDR), have been developed in order to simplify antiretroviral therapy (ART) and increase persistence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective was to compare antiretroviral persistence among patients receiving STRs and patients receiving LDRs. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with non-persistence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study that included treatment- experienced HIV-infected patients who received ART based on STR or LDR. Baseline patient characteristics collected included demographic information, HIV risk transmission, substance abuse during the therapy, presence of psychiatric disorder and hepatitis B or C virus infection. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log rank was utilized to compare persistence to STR and LDR. To identify independent predictors of non-persistence we developed a multivariate Cox regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 244 patients were included, 176 with STR and 68 with LDR. 60 (34.1%) patients discontinued in the STR group and 13 (19.1%) in the LDR group. The Cox regression model showed that the only variable associated with higher risk of non-persistence was the substance abuse (HR = 2.59; p = 0.005). Adverse events were the main reason for ART discontinuation in the STR group and virologic failure in the LDR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persistence to STR and LDR seems to be similar in pretreated HIV-infected patients. Drug abuse was the only factor identified with a higher risk of non-persistence.
authors: Department of pharmacy. Valme university Hospital, Seville.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: Rocio
authors: R
authors: Jiménez-Galán
authors: Department of pharmacy. Valme university Hospital, Seville.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: Maria-Rosa
authors: MR
authors: Cantudo Cuenca
authors: Department of pharmacy. Valme university Hospital, Seville.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: María Aguas
authors: MA
authors: Robustillo-Cortés
authors: Department of pharmacy. Valme university Hospital, Seville.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Borrego Izquierdo
authors: Research Unit. Valme university Hospital, Seville. Spain.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: Carmen Victoria
authors: CV
authors: Almeida-Gonzalez
authors: Department of pharmacy. Valme university Hospital, Seville.. rociojg85@hotmail.com.
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Morillo-Verdugo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D013607:Tablets