Failure to maintain adherence to HAART in a cohort of French HIV-positive injecting drug users

Abstract

The study, carried out in the French MANIF 2000 cohort of HIV positive patients contaminated through injecting drug use, assessed the impact of patients' sociodemographic and psychological characteristics, behaviors toward drug abuse, and antiretroviral treatment characteristics on the maintenance of adherence to HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapies). A total of 96 patients (30 men and 66 women), who were initially adherent at their first visit after HAART prescription, were considered for analysis. Among these 96 patients, 22 (22.9%) experienced adherence failure defined as a self-reported, non-adherence behavior at any visit before the 18th month of treatment. Logistic regression showed that lack of a stable relationship, active drug injection, and depression were independently associated with adherence failure. Patients' counseling for facilitating maintenance of adherence to HAART over time should focus on prevention of drug use, provision of social support and consider the potential impact of difficulties with treatment on psychological well-being.