Background The addition of anti-HCV treatment to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in HIV/HCV co-infected patients leads to an increase in the treatment complexity which may result in reduced adherence.

Purpose To determine whether the number of patients adherent to HAART decreased after the addition of anti-HCV treatment to HAART.

Material and methods We conducted a prospective two-centre observational study. HIV/HCV co-infected patients on HAART who started anti-HCV dual or triple therapy between January 2011 and December 2013 were included. Patients were excluded if they were virologically uncontrolled (>50 copies RNA VIH/mL) or their HAART had been modified in the six months before starting anti-HCV treatment. Variables collected were: demographics, anti-HCV treatment, weeks on anti-HCV treatment and adherence. Medicines adherence was assessed using electronic pharmacy repeat dispensing records. The threshold for optimal adherence was ≥95%. McNemar`s test was applied to compare adherence before and after the addition of anti-HCV treatment to HAART using SPSS-20.

Results 66 patients were included (86% male, mean age 47 ± 5). 53 (80%) patients were on dual therapy with peg-interferon and ribavirin, 11 (17%) patients were on triple anti-VHC treatment with telaprevir and 2 (3%) were treated with boceprevir. The median duration of the anti-HCV treatment was 45.6 (IQR: 20.4–49.1) weeks. 50 (76%) patients were considered adherent to HAART before starting anti-HCV treatment. After the addition of anti-HCV treatment, the number of adherent patients decreased to 45 (68%), p > 0.05. Subgroup analysis based on the anti-HCV treatment showed that patients adherent on anti-HCV dual therapy decreased from 42 (64%) to 37 (56%), p > 0.05. The number of adherent patients did not change in those on anti-HCV triple therapy.

Conclusion The introduction of anti-HCV dual therapy to HAART is associated with a tendency towards a decrease in the number of adherent patients.

References and/or Acknowledgements

1. AIDS Behav 2013;17:94–103

References and/or AcknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.