Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To determine if directly observed antiretroviral therapy (DOT) is more efficacious than self-administered therapy for improving adherence and reducing HIV viral load (VL) among methadone-maintained opioid users.Design
Two-group randomized trial.Setting
Twelve methadone maintenance clinics with on-site HIV care in the Bronx, New York.Participants
HIV-infected adults prescribed combination antiretroviral therapy.Main outcomes measures
Between group differences at four assessment points from baseline to week 24 in: (1) antiretroviral adherence measured by pill count, (2) VL, and (3) proportion with undetectable VL (< 75 copies/ml).Results
Between June 2004 and August 2007, we enrolled 77 participants. Adherence in the DOT group was higher than in the control group at all post-baseline assessment points; by week 24 mean DOT adherence was 86% compared to 56% in the control group (p < 0.0001). Group differences in mean adherence remained significant after stratifying by baseline VL (detectable versus undetectable). In addition, during the 24-week intervention, the proportion of DOT participants with undetectable VL increased from 51% to 71%.Conclusions
Among HIV-infected opioid users, antiretroviral DOT administered in methadone clinics was efficacious for improving adherence and decreasing VL, and these improvements were maintained over a 24-week period. DOT should be more widely available to methadone patients.
SUBMITTER: Berg KM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3003759 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Berg Karina M KM Litwin Alain A Li Xuan X Heo Moonseong M Arnsten Julia H JH
Drug and alcohol dependence 20100915 2-3
<h4>Objective</h4>To determine if directly observed antiretroviral therapy (DOT) is more efficacious than self-administered therapy for improving adherence and reducing HIV viral load (VL) among methadone-maintained opioid users.<h4>Design</h4>Two-group randomized trial.<h4>Setting</h4>Twelve methadone maintenance clinics with on-site HIV care in the Bronx, New York.<h4>Participants</h4>HIV-infected adults prescribed combination antiretroviral therapy.<h4>Main outcomes measures</h4>Between group ...[more]