Introduction – Medication use in people with HIV is increasingly complex due to the use of multiple antiretroviral and non-antiretroval drugs. Studies have shown that on average people living with HIV/AIDS take approximately 13 medications concurrently. The increased use of medications in people with HIV/AIDs makes them a target population at risk for the dangers associated with polypharmacy. Pharmacist-led interventions such as medication therapy management (MTM) have been useful in resolving medication-related problems and optimizing clinical outcomes. Studies in HIV patients have shown that MTM has the benefits of improving medication adherence, reducing contraindicated therapy, remaining on a single type of ART regimen, and preventing excess medication refills for ART. There are however limited studies on its impact on polypharmacy

Objective: Determine the effect of a modified MTM intervention on polypharmacy by determining the change in the number of polyactive substances in medications used by people with HIV/AIDS at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Method: A secondary data analysis of a new MTM project by the CDC, UNTHSC, and Walgreens that involved the collaboration of pharmacists and clinicians to provide patient-centered care for HIV patients was done. The study involved 765 participants from 10 states in the United States. Polypharmacy was measured by the number of polyactive substances (pharmacologically active ingredients) in medications used.

A longitudinal data analysis using a generalized estimating equation was used to assess the impact of MTM intervention on polypharmacy over time by determining the change in polyactive substances in medication pre-post MTM intervention.

Result: The average number of polyactive substances in medications used by the participants reduced from 10 to 8 pre-post MTM intervention. The maximum number of polyactive substances reduced from 35 pre-intervention to 18 post-intervention.

The result of the mixed model regression analysis showed that as time changes in the intervention, the number of polyactive substances decreased by approximately 3 (p-value <.0001)

Conclusion: Although medication therapy management interventions have been designed to identify and address HIV therapy-related problems. It may be a useful tool in helping to reduce polypharmacy in People living with HIV/AIDS.