TY - JOUR
T1 - Antiretroviral therapy adherence, virologic and immunologic outcomes in adolescents compared with adults in Southern Africa
AU - Nachega, Jean B.
AU - Hislop, Michael
AU - Nguyen, Hoang
AU - Dowdy, David W.
AU - Chaisson, Richard E.
AU - Regensberg, Leon
AU - Cotton, Mark
AU - Maartens, Gary
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine adherence to and effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adolescents vs. adults in southern Africa. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Aid for AIDS, a private sector disease management program in southern Africa. SUBJECTS: Adolescents (age 11-19 years; n = 154) and adults (n = 7622) initiating ART between 1999 and 2006 and having a viral load measurement within 1 year after ART initiation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: virologic suppression (HIV viral load ≤400 copies/mL), viral rebound, and CD4 T-cell count at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after ART initiation. Secondary: adherence assessed by pharmacy refills at 6, 12, and 24 months. Multivariate analyses: loglinear regression and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: A significantly smaller proportion of adolescents achieved 100% adherence at each time point (adolescents: 20.7% at 6 months, 14.3% at 12 months, and 6.6% at 24 months; adults: 40.5%, 27.9%, and 20.6% at each time point, respectively; P < 0.01). Patients achieving 100% 12-month adherence were significantly more likely to exhibit virologic suppression at 12 months, regardless of age. However, adolescents achieving virologic suppression had significantly shorter time to viral rebound (adjusted hazard ratio 2.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.31 to 3.13; P < 0.003). Adolescents were less likely to experience long-term immunologic recovery despite initial CD4 T-cell counts comparable to adults. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with adults, adolescents in southern Africa are less adherent to ART and have lower rates of virologic suppression and immunologic recovery and a higher rate of virologic rebound after initial suppression. Studies must determine specific barriers to adherence in this population and develop appropriate interventions.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine adherence to and effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adolescents vs. adults in southern Africa. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Aid for AIDS, a private sector disease management program in southern Africa. SUBJECTS: Adolescents (age 11-19 years; n = 154) and adults (n = 7622) initiating ART between 1999 and 2006 and having a viral load measurement within 1 year after ART initiation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: virologic suppression (HIV viral load ≤400 copies/mL), viral rebound, and CD4 T-cell count at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after ART initiation. Secondary: adherence assessed by pharmacy refills at 6, 12, and 24 months. Multivariate analyses: loglinear regression and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: A significantly smaller proportion of adolescents achieved 100% adherence at each time point (adolescents: 20.7% at 6 months, 14.3% at 12 months, and 6.6% at 24 months; adults: 40.5%, 27.9%, and 20.6% at each time point, respectively; P < 0.01). Patients achieving 100% 12-month adherence were significantly more likely to exhibit virologic suppression at 12 months, regardless of age. However, adolescents achieving virologic suppression had significantly shorter time to viral rebound (adjusted hazard ratio 2.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.31 to 3.13; P < 0.003). Adolescents were less likely to experience long-term immunologic recovery despite initial CD4 T-cell counts comparable to adults. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with adults, adolescents in southern Africa are less adherent to ART and have lower rates of virologic suppression and immunologic recovery and a higher rate of virologic rebound after initial suppression. Studies must determine specific barriers to adherence in this population and develop appropriate interventions.
KW - Adherence
KW - Adolescents
KW - Adults
KW - Antiretroviral therapy
KW - HIV
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
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U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318199072e
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318199072e
M3 - Article
C2 - 19282780
AN - SCOPUS:67651173212
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 51
SP - 65
EP - 71
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
IS - 1
ER -