Evaluation of Factors Affecting Antiretroviral Treatment Changes in HIVPositive Patients in a University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the world. With the antiretroviral treatments developed over the years, viral replication is suppressed even though the disease cannot be cured yet. However, antiretroviral therapy (ART), like all drugs, has brought with it undesirable side effects as well as positive effects. In addition, demographic characteristics, accompanying comorbidities, organ dysfunctions, viral load, CD4 T lymphocyte count, ART resistance status, coinfections, pregnancy are also effective factors in the initial ART decision and change. In this study, we aimed to show the treatment status of HIV-positive patients followed in the infectious diseases outpatient clinic of our hospital and to determine the factors that affect ART change. Materials and Methods: Demographic data of HIV-positive patients followed in the infectious diseases outpatient clinic between January 2016 and May 2021, HIV-RNA and CD4 T lymphocyte results obtained before and after antiretroviral therapy, and the reasons for changing treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 40.0 ± 13.9 (min: 20-max: 76), and 16 (18%) were female and 71 (82%) were male. Treatment was changed in 32% of the patients. Changes were made due to drug-related side effects in 43%, patient-related reasons (such as single tablet request, non-compliance with treatment) in 25%, and virological unresponsiveness in 18% of patients who underwent treatment change. The most common cause of drug changes due to side effects was hyperlipidemia. The treatment regimens that changed the initial treatment were most frequently TDF/FTC/LPV/r and TDF/FTC/EFV, respectively. Conclusion: As a result of our study, we found that the most common cause of ART change in HIV-positive patients in our hospital was drug-related side effects, and patient non-compliance was the second most common. It is important to know the factors that cause these changes in advance and to make choices accordingly when starting the treatment, in order to increase patient compliance and facilitate follow-up.