Use of comedications and potential drug-drug interactions in people living with HIV in China.

BACKGROUND

Because people living with HIV (PLWH) are ageing, they will inevitably develop non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the number of non-HIV medications will increase. Drug-drug interactions(DDIs) will become an ever-increasing issue. However, little is known about this important issue in Chinese PLWH. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of DDIs among PLWH in China.

METHODS

Chinese PLWH aged ≥18 years were enrolled prospectively from October 2018 to April 2019 and after informed consent was obtained, they were ask to fill out a questionnaire about comorbidity and co-medications. Potential DDIs were identified using the University of Liverpool HIV Drug Interaction Checker.

RESULTS

A total of 1804 questionnaires were included. Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) that most frequently were prescribed were lamivudine (96.18%), efavirenz(64.64%) and tenofovir(60.62%). 16.96% of the participations reported current co-infection with HIV and14.69% reported NCDs. 263(14.57%) participations reported they had used co-medications in the past six months while 186(10.31%) reported they were taking co-medications. Age≥50 years (p < 0.001), living in developed areas(p < 0.001) and lower CD4 cell count(p = 0.045) were independently associated with the use of co-medications. Potential DDIs were identified in 54 (19.15%) persons using co-medications. Age≥50 [OR = 2.272(1.241-4.158)], PLWH with NCDs[OR = 2.889(1.509-5.532)] and usage of protease inhibitors[OR = 2.538(1.250-5.156)] were independently associated with the potential DDIs.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of the use of co-medications and potential DDIs among Chinese PLWH are low. Older age, NCDs and use of PIs were risk factors for the potential of developing DDIs. With the aging of PLWH, co-medications and DDIs in China warrants more attention.