AEGiS-Glasgow [PL7.2] Living with adverse events: how does it affect adherence and decisions on starting or changing therapy?

Seventh International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection

Glasgow, UK - 14-17 November 2004

[PL7.2] Living with adverse events: how does it affect adherence and decisions on starting or changing therapy?

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 2004 Nov 14-18;7:Abstract No. PL7.2

Kevin Moody
European AIDS Treatment Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Everyone taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) experiences adverse events, the type and extent of which vary greatly from person to person and cannot be predicted. Induction side effects decrease over time and can be managed, while long-term metabolic side effects are even less predictable and less is known about how to prevent and manage them. Severe and life-threatening adverse events are less common but always lead to either a change or discontinuation of therapy. In many cases, adverse events are the first AIDS-related event that people experience and this can affect both adherence and quality of life. Studies show that adverse events are a major reason for discontinuing or changing ART. The number of adverse events increases when people are given the opportunity to report adverse events themselves, as opposed to relying on documentation by their physicians. Upon initialisation of ART, non-adherent patients report a significantly higher number of adverse events than adherent patients but both report large numbers. For longer term side effects, such as lipodistrophy, the decision to either interrupt or change ART is less studied but the benefits of doing so are more obscure. Knowledge about the natural course of HIV disease, the benefits of ART, and managing adverse events can lead to better adherence. Increased treatment literacy can lead to better adherence and better management of adverse events, which will in turn lead to better virological outcomes.

SESSION 7: ADVERSE EVENTS I

2004-11-14
PL7.2

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