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Race/ethnicity associated with ART adherence
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Recent data suggest that race and ethnicity were significantly associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
Researchers from the University of Washington and other US universities conducted a study to determine this association by analyzing data from the Multisite Adherence Collaboration on HIV (MACH14). The studies involved with MACH14 measured adherence electronically, using the Medication Event Monitoring System. The researchers also evaluated whether depression and substance use played a role on ART adherence.
The final sample included 1,809 participants from 16 studies. The participants were aged 18 to 72 years and were mostly male. Blacks comprised 53% of the sample, whites 34% and Latinos 14%. Among those with depression scores, 60% had no signs or minimal signs of depression, 25% had mild to moderate depression and 14% had severe depression. As for substance use, 65% of participants reported no substance use in the past 30 to 365 days, 26% reported using one substance and 10% reported using two or more substances.
When controlling for demographic variables, including age, gender, income education and study site, race/ethnicity was significantly associated with ART adherence. This significance persisted when controlling for depression and substance use. Blacks demonstrated significantly less adherence than Latinos and whites. There was no difference in adherence between whites and Latinos.
“These findings may help to explain the worse health outcomes for racial/ethnic minorities with HIV in the United States and suggest a need for interventions targeting their adherence to achieve the US National HIV/AIDS Strategy goal to reduce HIV-related health disparities,” the researchers wrote. “There is a need for more research on the mechanisms of these racial/ethnic disparities to inform intervention development and better address these inequities.”
References:
Simoni JM. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2012;60;466-472.
Disclosures:
The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.