Comparison of six methods to estimate adherence in an ART-naive cohort in a resource-poor setting: which best predicts virological and resistance outcomes?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Incomplete adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) results in virologic failure and resistance. It remains unclear which adherence measure best predicts these outcomes. We compared six patient-reported and objective adherence measures in one ART-naïve cohort in South Africa.

Methods

We recruited 230 participants from a community ART clinic and prospectively collected demographic data, CD4 count and HIV-RNA at weeks 0, 16 and 48. We quantified adherence using 3-day self-report (SR), clinic-based pill count (CPC), average adherence by pharmacy refill (PR-average), calculation of medication-free days (PR-gaps), efavirenz therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and an electronic adherence monitoring device (EAMD). Associations between adherence measures and virologic and

SUBMITTER: Orrell C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5379739 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature