Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in children: a study of prevalence and associated factors

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Abstract

The survival of children with AIDS has increased considerably with the use of more effective antiretrovirals, but the benefits of this therapy are limited by the difficulty of adherence to the treatment. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of non-adherence to antiretrovirals among children residents in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and identifying associated factors. There were 194 child caregivers interviewed. The technique utilized to evaluate adherence allowed the detection of lack of understanding of the prescribed antiretroviral regimens, as well as conscious loss of doses. Non-adherence was defined when the child had taken less than 80% of the prescribed medication during the 24h period prior to the interview. A general prevalence of non-adherence was 49.5%, which was higher than that estimated. The non-institutional caregivers had a prevalence rate of 55.7%, while the institutional caregivers had 22.2%. In multivariate analysis, the education of the caregiver was found to have a borderline association with the outcome. Institutionalized children and those taken care of by people with a higher educational level appeared to have more protection against non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Translated abstract

A sobrevida de crianças com AIDS teve um aumento considerável com o emprego de anti-retrovirais mais efetivos, porém os benefícios dessa terapêutica são limitados pela dificuldade na adesão ao tratamento. Este estudo transversal teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência da não-adesão aos anti-retrovirais entre crianças residentes em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, e identificar os fatores associados. Foram entrevistados 194 cuidadores de crianças. A técnica utilizada para aferir a adesão permitiu detectar tanto as perdas por falhas no entendimento do esquema anti-retroviral prescrito quanto das perdas conscientes de doses. Foi definida como não-aderente a criança que ingeriu menos de 80% das doses prescritas para 24 horas no dia anterior à entrevista. A prevalência geral da não-adesão encontrada foi de 49,5% superior à estimada. Considerando os tipos de cuidadores não-institucionais e institucionais, no primeiro, a prevalência foi de 55,7% e, no segundo, de 22,2%. Na análise multivariável, a escolaridade do cuidador apresentou associação limítrofe com o desfecho. As crianças institucionalizadas e as cuidadas por pessoas com melhor escolaridade parecem estar mais protegidas da não-adesão aos anti-retrovirais.

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Most cited references 3

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Immunologic and virologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

J Margolick, Mercedes P Jacobson, Ciara O'Brien … (2001)

To evaluate prior antiretroviral therapy experience and host characteristics as determinants of immunologic and virologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We studied 397 men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) who initiated HAART between October 1995 and March 1999. CD4 cell count and HIV-1 RNA responses to HAART were measured at the first visit following HAART (short-term) and extending from the first visit to approximately 33 months after HAART (long-term). Prior antiretroviral experience was classified into three groups based on antiretroviral therapy use during the 5 years prior to HAART. Age, race and host genetic characteristics also were assessed for their effects on treatment response. Better short- and long-term CD4 cell and HIV-1 RNA responses were observed in the treatment-naive users. Intermittently and consistently experienced users did not significantly differ in response. Whereas race did not independently affect response, among those initiating HAART with > 400 x 10(6) CD4 cells/l, younger age and the Delta32 CCR5 genotype were associated with a better short-term CD4 cell response. There was a suggestion that having the protective CCR5 genotype also was associated with a better long-term CD4 cell response. Immunologic and virologic response to HAART was stronger in individuals who had no prior experience with the antiretroviral therapy agents subsequently included in their initial HAART regimen. Age, level of immune competence and immunogenetics appeared to play a role in the subsequent immune reconstitution following use of highly effective HIV therapy.