Adverse Drug Reactions and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study From Ethiopia

Abstract

ADRs were common within the first 3 months in patients initiated on ART. Severe ADRs were negatively associated with self-reported adherence and gain in BMI. Measures need to be implemented to routinely monitor for severe ADRs to improve ART adherence and treatment outcomes.

Magnitude of Antiretroviral Drug toxicity in adult HIV patients in Ethiopia: A cohort study at seven teaching hospitals

“…Consistent with global data, incident toxicities in our study were found to be more common in the first 6 months of ART initiation (4, 7, 24). Patients with advanced disease at ART initiation in particular are at higher risk of ADR (25, 26).…”

Comment on: “Adverse Drug Reactions and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study from Ethiopia”

“…We read with interest the recent article published in Drug Safety by Bezabhe and colleagues [1] on the linkage between adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and poor adherence in patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in two clinics in Ethiopia.…”

“…In their prospective study, Bezabhe and colleagues [1] found that more than 85% of the cohort experienced at least one ADR, and almost a third experienced a severe ADR in the first 12 weeks of therapy. Most ADRs were already evident within 4 weeks.…”

Authors’ Reply to Cotton and Nicol’s Comment on “Adverse Drug Reactions and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study from Ethiopia”

“…The second important point raised in their letter is that serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are prevalent and are associated with mortality and morbidity in patients taking ART [3,4]. Severe ADRs that were more prevalent within the first 3 months were a barrier to achieving optimal adherence [4], which is critically important for successful virological suppression in patients initiated on ART [5].…”

“…Severe ADRs that were more prevalent within the first 3 months were a barrier to achieving optimal adherence [4], which is critically important for successful virological suppression in patients initiated on ART [5].…”