Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Participants of the Patient-centered Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Model Project: A Collaboration Between Community-based Pharmacists and HIV Clinical Providers.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral suppression (VS) decreases morbidity, mortality, and transmission risk. METHODS: The Patient-centered HIV Care Model integrated community-based pharmacists with HIV medical providers and required them to share patient clinical information, identify therapy-related problems, and develop therapy-related action plans.Proportions adherent to antiretroviral therapy (proportion of days covered [PDC] ≥90%) and virally suppressed (HIV RNA <200 copies/mL), before and after model implementation, were compared. Factors associated with postimplementation VS were determined using multivariable logistic regression; participant demographics, baseline viral load, and PDC were explanatory variables. PDC was modified to account for time to last viral load in the year postimplementation, and stratified as <50%, 50% to <80%, 80% to <90%, and ≥90%. RESULTS: The 765 enrolled participants were 43% non-Hispanic black, 73% male, with a median age of 48 years; 421 and 649 were included in the adherence and VS analyses, respectively. Overall, proportions adherent to therapy remained unchanged. However, VS improved a relative 15% (75% to 86%, P < .001). Higher PDC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.74 per 1-level increase in PDC category [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.30-2.34]) and baseline VS (AOR, 7.69 [95% CI, 3.96-15.7]) were associated with postimplementation VS. Although non-Hispanic black persons (AOR, 0.29 [95% CI, .12-.62]) had lower odds of suppression, VS improved a relative 23% (63% to 78%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Integrated care models between community-based pharmacists and primary medical providers may identify and address HIV therapy-related problems and improve VS among persons with HIV.

Improvements in Retention in Care and HIV Viral Suppression Among Persons with HIV and Comorbid Mental Health Conditions: Patient-Centered HIV Care Model.

The Patient-centered HIV Care Model (PCHCM) integrated community-based pharmacists with medical providers and required sharing of patient clinical information and collaborative therapy-related action planning. We determined the proportions of participants with HIV and mental health conditions who were retained in care and the proportion virally suppressed, pre- and post-implementation. Overall, we found a relative 13% improvement in both retention [60% to 68% (p = 0.009)] and viral suppression [79% to 90% (p < 0.001)]. Notable improvements were seen among persons triply diagnosed with HIV, mental illness and substance use [+ 36% (50% to 68%, p = 0.036) and + 32% (66% to 86%, p = 0.001) in retention and viral suppression, respectively]. There were no differences in the proportions of persons adherent to psychiatric medications, pre- to post-implementation, nor were there differences in the proportions of persons retained in care or virally suppressed by psychiatric medication adherence, post-implementation. PCHCM demonstrated that collaborations between community-based pharmacists and medical providers can improve HIV care continuum outcomes among persons with mental health conditions.

Antiretroviral Adherence Level Necessary for HIV Viral Suppression Using Real-World Data.

BACKGROUND: A benchmark of near-perfect adherence (≥95%) to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is often cited as necessary for HIV viral suppression. However, given newer, more effective ART medications, the threshold for viral suppression may be lower. We estimated the minimum ART adherence level necessary to achieve viral suppression. SETTINGS: The Patient-centered HIV Care Model demonstration project. METHODS: Adherence to ART was calculated using the proportion of days covered measure for the 365-day period before each viral load test result, and grouped into 5 categories (<50%, 50% to <80%, 80% to <85%, 85% to <90%, and ≥90%). Binomial regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with viral suppression (HIV RNA <200 copies/mL); demographics, proportion of days covered category, and ART regimen type were explanatory variables. Generalized estimating equations with an exchangeable working correlation matrix accounted for correlation within subjects. In addition, probit regression models were used to estimate adherence levels required to achieve viral suppression in 90% of HIV viral load tests. RESULTS: The adjusted odds of viral suppression did not differ between persons with an adherence level of 80% to <85% or 85% to <90% and those with an adherence level of ≥90%. In addition, the overall estimated adherence level necessary to achieve viral suppression in 90% of viral load tests was 82% and varied by regimen type; integrase inhibitor- and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens achieved 90% viral suppression with adherence levels of 75% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ART adherence level necessary to reach HIV viral suppression may be lower than previously thought and may be regimen-dependent.

Impact of an online prescription management account on medication adherence.

OBJECTIVES: To assess medication adherence rates of patients utilizing an online prescription management account compared with nonusers. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was conducted using de-identified pharmacy claims data from a pharmacy benefit manager covering the period from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2011. Patients who were continuously eligible throughout the study period and that had at least 1 prescription fill for any of the 8 therapeutic groups examined in the study were selected for inclusion. METHODS: Adherence was assessed by measuring the proportion of days covered (PDC). Propensity score matching was utilized to minimize differences in age, gender, chronic condition score, copay, household income, and urban locality between the users and nonusers groups. Results were reported for all therapeutic groups combined, as well as by individual therapeutic group. RESULTS: Overall, patients utilizing the online account had a significantly higher weighted average PDC (73.19% vs 61.64%, P <.0001). Users also had a higher average PDC for each individual therapeutic group, although the beta-blocker group was not statistically significant. The percentage of patients achieving an average PDC of >80% was also found to be greater in the users group across each therapeutic group and overall. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who utilized an online prescription management account had higher rates of medication adherence as compared with nonusers. Additional studies are needed to assess which specific components of the prescription management account have the biggest impact on adherence.