Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and correlates to nonadherence among people on ART in Estonia

Bibliographic Data

ID19441674
AuthorsAnneli Uusküla (0000-0002-4036-3856, University of Tartu, corresponding author), Kaja-Triin Laisaar (0000-0002-6774-9601, University of Tartu), Mait Raag (0000-0003-3572-6218, University of Tartu), Jelena Šmidt (b Infectious Diseases Department , East-Viru Central Hospital , Kohtla-Järve , Estonia), Svetlana Semjonova (b Infectious Diseases Department , East-Viru Central Hospital , Kohtla-Järve , Estonia), Juta Kogan (b Infectious Diseases Department , East-Viru Central Hospital , Kohtla-Järve , Estonia), K Rivet Amico (0000-0002-4458-6934, University of Connecticut), Anjali Sharma (0000-0001-6297-3113, d Division of Infectious Diseases , State University of New York Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn , NY , USA), Jack DeHovitz (0000-0001-7307-0614, d Division of Infectious Diseases , State University of New York Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn , NY , USA)
Year2012
Volume24
Issue12
Pages1470-1479
Publication date2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2012.672724
PMID22533736
OpenAlexW2078718419
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited39

There are little data on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among patients in Eastern Europe, despite the high incidence of HIV infection and the growing number of HIV-infected individuals who are being prescribed ART. The aim of this study was to measure rates of adherence to ART and factors associated with nonadherence among patients receiving care at an outpatient HIV clinic in Estonia. The study was based on cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 144 patients receiving outpatient HIV care. Data were obtained via interviewer-administered surveys and data abstraction from clinical records. Adherence was measured from a 3-day patient self-report. Among 144 participants (mean age 33.8 years), two-thirds (63%) had been infected with HIV through intravenous drug use. Most (74%) were co-infected with hepatitis C (HCV). Perfect adherence over the last 3 days was commonly reported (88% [95% CI 81-92%]) with nonperfect adherence associated with greater concerns about the potential adverse consequences of taking ART (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.8, 95% CI 1.2-34.0) and average (versus good/very good) self-reported health status (AOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.2-31.4). Self-reported ART adherence in this sample of Estonian HIV-positive patients in clinical care was similar to rates observed in Western Europe and other developed countries. Results suggest that adherence education and support may be most helpful if they specifically target the development of positive beliefs, reduction of negative expectancies towards ART

Antiretroviral therapy · Family medicine · Health care · Hepatitis C · Odds ratio · Outpatient clinic · Viral load · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Internal Medicine