TY - JOUR
T1 - Pillbox organizers are associated with improved adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression
T2 - A marginal structural model analysis
AU - Petersen, Maya L.
AU - Wang, Yue
AU - Van Der Laan, Mark J.
AU - Guzman, David
AU - Riley, Elise
AU - Bangsberg, David R.
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support. National Institute of Mental Health (grants 54907 and 63011; R01 GM071397 to M.v.d.L.), the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (to D.R.B.), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (predoctoral fellowship to M.P.). Viral load kits were donated by Roche. Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: no conflicts.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Background. Pillbox organizers are inexpensive and easily used; however, their effect on adherence to antiretroviral medications is unknown. Methods. Data were obtained from an observational cohort of 245 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects who were observed from 1996 through 2000 in San Francisco, California. Adherence was the primary outcome and was measured using unannounced monthly pill counts. Plasma HIV RNA level was considered as a secondary outcome. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the effect of pillbox organizer use on adherence and viral suppression, adjusting for confounding by CD4 + T cell count, viral load, prior adherence, recreational drug use, demographic characteristics, and current and past treatment. Results. Pillbox organizer use was estimated to improve adherence by 4.1%-4.5% and was associated with a decrease in viral load of 0.34-0.37 log 10 copies/mL and a 14.2%-15.7% higher probability of achieving a viral load ≤400 copies/mL (odds ratio, 1.8-1.9). All effect estimates were statistically significant. Conclusion. Pillbox organizers appear to significantly improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to improve virologic suppression. We estimate that pillbox organizers may be associated with a cost of ∼$19,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Pillbox organizers should be a standard intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
AB - Background. Pillbox organizers are inexpensive and easily used; however, their effect on adherence to antiretroviral medications is unknown. Methods. Data were obtained from an observational cohort of 245 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects who were observed from 1996 through 2000 in San Francisco, California. Adherence was the primary outcome and was measured using unannounced monthly pill counts. Plasma HIV RNA level was considered as a secondary outcome. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the effect of pillbox organizer use on adherence and viral suppression, adjusting for confounding by CD4 + T cell count, viral load, prior adherence, recreational drug use, demographic characteristics, and current and past treatment. Results. Pillbox organizer use was estimated to improve adherence by 4.1%-4.5% and was associated with a decrease in viral load of 0.34-0.37 log 10 copies/mL and a 14.2%-15.7% higher probability of achieving a viral load ≤400 copies/mL (odds ratio, 1.8-1.9). All effect estimates were statistically significant. Conclusion. Pillbox organizers appear to significantly improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to improve virologic suppression. We estimate that pillbox organizers may be associated with a cost of ∼$19,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Pillbox organizers should be a standard intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34848874182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34848874182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/521250
DO - 10.1086/521250
M3 - Article
C2 - 17806060
AN - SCOPUS:34848874182
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 45
SP - 908
EP - 915
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 7
ER -