Adherence and Risk Behaviour in Patients With HIV Infection Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

Background and Rationale:

Adherence to an effective antiretroviral (ARV) regimen is the most important determinant of treatment success in patients receiving ARV. It is now well established that virological suppression on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) requires strict adherence to prescribed dosing schedules. It is essential to reach and maintain therapeutic levels of these drugs, and strict adherence is particularly crucial for preventing the development of drug-resistant viral strains. If therapeutic drugs levels are suboptimal and the virus is able to replicate, this has important individual and public health implications.

Indirect evidence also suggests that the use of HAART by HIV-infected individuals decreases sexual transmission of HIV. Specifically, ARV treatment decreases serum and genital fluid HIV viral load. It has become evident that the availability of HAART may paradoxically increase sexual practices that lead to HIV transmission. This has been seen in several developed countries where the introduction of HAART coincided with increasing sexual risk behaviour and sexually transmitted infections. Thus far there has been very little evidence showing these trends in developing countries.

Despite the high burden on HIV in developing countries compared with developed countries, considerably more evidence is available in the latter regarding adherence and risk behaviour. Studies to ascertain the correlation between these two factors are important as new interventions may be established to ensure that improved health and economic outcomes will follow. Understanding which patients have increased risk behaviours, or are at risk for non-adherence enables identification of patients who are important targets for interventional strategies to optimise HIV treatment programmes.

Adherence and risk behaviour: