Depression is associated with poor self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV attending an HIV clinic in the UK: results from a cross-sectional study.

Contemporary evidence is needed to assess whether the prevalence of depression remains high among people living with HIV in the United Kingdom despite recent efforts to improve patients' mental health, and if depression is negatively associated with individuals' adherence to antiretroviral therapy. In a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional clinic-based survey of alcohol consumption and associated health behaviour among people living with HIV in London, of the 221 respondents, 106 (48%) had poor self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy (CASE Index) and 69 (31%) screened positive for depression (PHQ-9). Poor self-reported adherence to ART was 72% higher among participants who screened positive for depression in comparison with participants who screened negative. Respondents who were younger, unemployed, and reported problematic drug use were more likely to screen positive for depression. Screening and management of depression as a part of routine HIV care may support adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Real world utilisation of doravirine among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in England (DRIVE-REAL).

BACKGROUND: Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor recommended for the treatment of virologically suppressed and treatment naïve people living with HIV. The DRIVE-REAL study aimed to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, and virological outcomes of doravirine users in a real-world cohort in the UK. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, multi-centre chart review was conducted for 300 adults living with HIV initiating doravirine-containing antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: At baseline 83% of individuals were male, 45% aged ≥50 years, 65% white ethnicity. Median time since HIV diagnosis was 12 years. 96% were antiretroviral therapy-experienced, 87% had a HIV viral load <50 copies/ml, and 15% had resistance to at least one antiretroviral drug. 66% had comorbidities, most commonly depression (26%), and 70% were taking at least one co-medication. At six months, 94% (n = 283/300) were still receiving doravirine. Viral load data were available for n = 266/300 individuals and 95% (n = 253/266) had viral load <50 copies/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals initiating doravirine in this cohort are predominantly treatment-experienced white middle-aged males, with a high frequency of comorbidities and co-medication. The majority of individuals at 6 months remained on doravirine and maintained or achieved HIV viral suppression. This study provides epidemiologic characteristics that can inform clinical care and subsequent hypothesis-testing studies.