Correlation between Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment and Virologic Failure in HIV-infected Koreans.
- Author:
Jun Yong CHOI
1
;
Yoon Soo PARK
;
Chang Oh KIM
;
Yoon Seon PARK
;
Hee Jung YOON
;
So Youn SHIN
;
Yeon A KIM
;
Young Goo SONG
;
June Myung KIM
Author Information
1. AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jmkim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
HIV;
HIV infection;
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
Highly active antiretroviral therapy;
Adherence
- MeSH:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome;
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active;
CD4 Lymphocyte Count;
Cell Count;
HIV;
HIV Infections;
Humans;
Treatment Failure;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:
Infection and Chemotherapy
2005;37(1):9-15
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Several factors associated with human virologic failure in patients with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are low CD4+ cell counts, advanced clinical stage, poor subscribing, subtherapeutic drug levels, etc. Among these factors, poor adherence is one of the leading causes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the adherence to antiretroviral treatment in HIV infected Koreans using questionnaire. We evaluated the factors associated with poor adherence and analyzed the correlation between the adherence to antiretroviral treatment and virologic failure. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients responded to the questionnaire. Of the 49 patients, 26 (53.1%) answered that they had never forgotten to take their medicine, and 23 (46.9%) answered that they had taken all their medications during the last week. The reasons for missed doses were forgetting, being too busy, having adverse side effects, etc. Low CD4+ T cell counts, longer duration of antiretroviral treatment, and longer duration of being diagnosed with HIV infection were associated with poor adherence in HIV infected Koreans (P<0.05). There was correlation between poor adherence and virologic failure in these HIV-infected Koreans (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Because poor adherence induces treatment failure, monitoring adherence is very important for successful antiretroviral treatment. Questionnaire was a good method for monitoring adherence in HIV infected patients.
