Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Risk Factors Among MSM Patients in Hangzhou, China: A Cohort Study

Abstract

This cohort study was to assess levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the risky factors among HIV-positive Men who have sexed with men (MSM) in Hangzhou, China in 2015-2017. HIV-positive MSM who were 18 years of age or older and went to the clinic to initiate ART between Jan 2015 and Jun 2016 were recruited. Data were collected at baseline and at follow-up times of 1, 6, 12 months. The Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) model was used to examine the risk factors of adherence. Among 397 individuals, 82.6%, 80.9% and 79.9% were fully adherent to the treatment at 1, 6, 12 months of follow-up, respectively. In adjusted analyses, ART-initial CD4 cell count (<500 &≥500 cells/mm 3) was not associated with ART adherence (Adjusted Risk Ratio [ARR]=0.765, 95%CI=0.476-1.230). Participants who were under 30 years of age and who used alcohol were associated with a higher risk of non-adherence (ARR=0.641, 1.809, 95%CI=0.441-0.931, 1.266-2.584). ART adherence was high among MSM as fellows. There was no effect of ART-initial CD4 cell count on adherence. Patients aged older and used alcohol need to be pay more attention.