Success rates and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among treatment-naïve patients in Davao City, Philippines: A ten-year retrospective cohort study

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved the prognosis and quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients. However, ART success is greatly influenced by patient adherence to the treatment regimens. This study aimed to assess the association between patient adherence to ART and the treatment success rate among antiretroviral-naïve patients in Davao City, Philippines.

Methods: This study utilized a 10-year retrospective cohort design, including 517 antiretroviral-naïve patients from an HIV treatment hub in Davao City, the Philippines. Using strict inclusion criteria, 183 antiretroviral-naïve patients were analyzed.

Findings: The study found significant associations between the type of ART (p = 0.011) and the timing of ART initiation (p = 0.006) with both patient adherence and the ART success rate. Specifically, patients who achieved sustained viral suppression were predominantly those who initiated ART early, with 71.6 % (n = 131) of them prescribed a regimen consisting of 2 NRTIs and 1 NNRTI. Moreover, 73.8 % of patients demonstrated good adherence (<50 HIV copies/mL). Importantly, patient adherence to ART was strongly correlated with treatment success rate.

Interpretation: This study highlights the significance of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for successful treatment outcomes among antiretroviral-naïve patients living with HIV/AIDS. Early initiation of ART and consistent adherence to treatment regimens are essential for achieving sustained viral suppression and improving treatment effectiveness.