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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Mallory Johnson, PhD1, Sheryl L. Catz, PhD2, Robert Remien, PhD3, Stephen Morin, PhD1, Lance Weinhardt, PhD2, Rise Goldstein, PhD4, Daniel Hong4, and Margaret Chesney, PhD1. (1) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery #600, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-597-9374, mjohnson@psg.ucsf.edu, (2) Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202, (3) HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr. Unit 15, New York, NY 10032, (4) Center for Communtity Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Close adherence to multi-drug regimens is critical for improving health and minimizing drug-resistant HIV. Medication side effects are substantial barriers to adherence and the identification of specific side effects associated with nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may provide direction for intervention. This cross-sectional investigation employed computerized assessment of adherence and perceived side effects among 2187 HIV+ adults taking ART completing baseline assessments for an intervention trial in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Milwaukee. The sample was heterogeneous with respect to gender (74% male; 25% female; 1% transgender) and ethnicity (49% AA; 17% H/L; 27% W; 7% other). Thirty-five percent of the sample reported skipping at least one ART dose in the past 3 days and endorsed significantly higher frequencies of side effects than those without missed doses, t (2185)=4.85, p < .0001. Nonadherence was associated with patient perceptions that 10 of 25 specific symptoms assessed were due, at least in part, to ART side effects (all p’s < .002). Medication attributed symptoms linked to nonadherence included fatigue; fevers/chills; trouble remembering; nausea; vomiting; skin problems; headaches; appetite loss; change in taste; and "spacey" sensations. Many persons skip doses when they perceive ART to cause adverse symptoms before reporting such symptoms to providers. Regular monitoring, planning, and management of specific perceived side effects are likely to be efficient, cost-effective strategies for preventing nonadherence.
Learning Objectives: Session participants will be able to
Keywords: Adherence, Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.