Abstract Background Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) that involve antiretrovirals (ARVs) tend to cause harm if unrecognized, especially in the context of comorbidity and polypharmacy. Methods A linkage was established between the drug dispensing registry of Madrid and the Liverpool human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DDI database (January 2017–June 2017). Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 non-HIV medications, and DDIs were classified by a traffic-light ranking for severity. Results A total of 22 945 people living with HIV (PLWH) and 6 613 506 individuals without HIV had received medications. ARV regimens were predominantly based on integrase inhibitors (51.96%). Polypharmacy was higher in PLWH (32.94%) than individuals without HIV (22.16%; P < .001); this difference was consistently observed across all age strata except for individuals ≥75 years. Polypharmacy was more common in women than men in both PLWH and individuals without HIV. The prevalence of contraindicated combinations involving ARVs was 3.18%. Comedications containing corticosteroids, quetiapine, or antithrombotic agents were associated with the highest risk for red-flag DDI, and the use of raltegravir- or dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.72 (95% confidence interval, .60–.88; P = .001) for red-flag DDI. Conclusions Polypharmacy was more frequent among PLWH across all age groups except those aged ≥75 years and was more common in women. The detection of contraindicated medications in PLWH suggests a likely disconnect between hospital and community prescriptions. Switching to alternative unboosted integrase regimens should be considered for patients with risk of harm from DDIs.

Abstract Background Prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs) between antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and comedications was high in 2008 in a Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) survey. We reassessed the prevalence of PDDIs in the era of HIV integrase inhibitors (INIs), characterized by more favorable interaction profiles. Methods The prevalence of PDDIs in treated HIV positive individuals was assessed for the period: 01-12/2018 by linkage of the Liverpool HIV drug interactions and SHCS databases. PDDIs were categorized as harmful (red flagged), of potential clinical relevance (amber flagged) or of weak clinical significance (yellow flagged). Results In 9’298 included individuals, median age was 51 years (IQR 43; 58), and 72% were males. Individuals received unboosted INIs (40%), boosted ARVs (30%), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) (32%) based regimens. In the entire cohort, 68% received > 1 comedication, 14% had polypharmacy (> 5 comedications) and 29% had > 1 PDDI. Among individuals with comedication, the prevalence of combined amber and yellow PDDIs was 43% (33% amber - mostly with cardiovascular drugs - and 20% yellow flagged PDDIs) compared to 59% in 2008. Two percent had red flagged PDDIs (mostly with corticosteroids), the same as in the 2008 survey. Compared to 2008, fewer individuals received boosted ARVs (-24%) and NNRTIs (-13%) but the use of comedications was higher. Conclusions Prevalence of PDDIs was lower with more widespread use of INIs in 2018 than in 2008. Continued use of boosted regimens and increasing needs for comedications in this aging population impeded lower rates of PDDIs.

ObjectivesWe assessed the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) among older (≥ 65 years) people living with HIV (O‐PLWH) in the region of Madrid.MethodsWe analysed the dispensation registry of community and hospital pharmacies from the Madrid Regional Health Service (SERMAS) for the period between 1 January and 30 June 2017, looking specifically at PIMs according to the 2019 Beers criteria. Co‐medications were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system.ResultsA total of 6 636 451 individuals received medications. Of these individuals, 22 945 received antiretrovirals (ARVs), and of these 1292 were O‐PLWH. Overall, 1135 (87.8%) O‐PLWH were taking at least one co‐medication, and polypharmacy (at least five co‐medications) was observed in 852 individuals (65.9%). A PIM was identified in 482 (37.3%) O‐PLWH. Factors independently associated with PIM were polypharmacy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.16–9.72] and female sex (aOR 1.75; 95% CI 1.30–2.35). The distribution of PIMs according to ATC drug class were nervous system drugs (n = 369; 28.6%), musculoskeletal system drugs (n = 140; 10.8%), gastrointestinal and metabolism drugs (n = 72; 5.6%), cardiovascular drugs (n = 61; 4.7%), respiratory system drugs (n = 13; 1.0%), antineoplastic and immunomodulating drugs (n = 10; 0.8%), and systemic anti‐infectives (n = 2; 0.2%). Five drugs accounted for 84.8% of the 482O PLWH with PIMs: lorazepam (38.2%), ibuprofen (18.0%), diazepam (10.2%), metoclopramide (9.9%), and zolpidem (8.5%).ConclusionsPrescription of PIMs is highly prevalent in O‐PLWH. Consistent with data in uninfected elderly people, the most frequently observed PIMs were benzodiazepines and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs . Targeted interventions are warranted to reduce inappropriate prescribing and polypharmacy in this vulnerable population.