Once-Daily Regimens Improve Adherence

Once-daily highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens are just as effective as twice-daily regimens but significantly boost patient adherence and satisfaction, according to a study by researchers presented in July. Nearly 980 HIV patients from 55 Spanish hospitals participated in the study and were given either once- or twice-daily HAART regimens. Patient data was further broken down into three areas in each of the two main groups: patients on their first anti-HIV drug regimen, patients who were changing to a simpler regimen, and patients changing regimens due to prior treatment failure. Patient adherence was significantly better among all three arms of the group taking anti-HIV pills once per day compared to those on twice-daily dosing schedules. Study subjects switching to once-daily regimens either for simplification reasons or because of treatment failure also were more likely to achieve viral loads under 400 than those switching to a twice-daily regimen: 91.4% of those who switched to simplify their regimens posted low viral loads, compared to 83.4% of those switching to a twice-daily regimen; 64.4% of those changing to a new once-daily regimen because of treatment failure achieved viral loads below 400 copies, compared with 49.4% of those switching from a failing regimen to a new twice-daily cocktail. 'Once-daily antiretroviral therapy appears as effective as twice-daily, significantly improving adherence and treatment satisfaction,' the researchers concluded. 'This should positively affect treatment efficacy, given these features are the cornerstone for HAART success in the long-term.'