Brief Report: Appraising Viral Load Thresholds and Adherence Support Recommendations in the World Health Organization Guidelines for Detection and Management of Virologic Failure

Suzanne M. McCluskey, Yap Boum, Nicholas Musinguzi, Jessica E. Haberer, Jeffrey N. Martin, Peter W. Hunt, Vincent C. Marconi, David R. Bangsberg, Mark J. Siedner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization defines HIV virologic failure as 2 consecutive viral loads >1000 copies/mL, measured 3-6 months apart, with interval adherence support. We sought to empirically evaluate these guidelines using data from an observational cohort. Setting: The Uganda AIDS Rural Treatment Outcomes study observed adults with HIV in southwestern Uganda from the time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and monitored adherence with electronic pill bottles. Methods: We included participants on ART with a detectable HIV RNA viral load and who remained on the same regimen until the subsequent measurement. We fit logistic regression models with viral resuppression as the outcome of interest and both initial viral load level and average adherence as predictors of interest. Results: We analyzed 139 events. Median ART duration was 0.92 years, and 100% were on a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. Viral resuppression occurred in 88% of those with initial HIV RNA <1000 copies/mL and 42% if HIV RNA was >1000 copies/mL (P <0.001). Adherence after detectable viremia predicted viral resuppression for those with HIV RNA <1000 copies/mL (P = 0.011) but was not associated with resuppression for those with HIV RNA >1000 copies/mL (P = 0.894; interaction term P = 0.077). Conclusions: Among patients on ART with detectable HIV RNA >1000 copies/mL who remain on the same regimen, only 42% resuppressed at next measurement, and there was no association between interval adherence and viral resuppression. These data support consideration of resistance testing to help guide management of virologic failure in resource-limited settings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-187
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2017

Keywords

  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • HIV-1
  • World Health Organization
  • medication adherence
  • treatment failure
  • viremia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Brief Report: Appraising Viral Load Thresholds and Adherence Support Recommendations in the World Health Organization Guidelines for Detection and Management of Virologic Failure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this