Studies conducted in the Bronx may not be relevant in Burma / Myanmar. But illegal drug use was less a predictor of ART nonadherence than smoking ...
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Cigarette smoking is an independent predictor of nonadherence in HIV-infected individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Jonathan Shuter a; Steven L. Bernstein b
Affiliations:
a AIDS Center and Division of Infectious Diseases, Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
b Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
DOI: 10.1080/14622200801908190
Published in: journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 10, Issue 4 April 2008 , pages 731 - 736
Abstract
Current treatment guidelines for the management of HIV-infected individuals emphasize the importance of excellent adherence to antiretroviral medications. We conducted a prospective 24-week study of adherence to lopinavir/ritonavir in a group of 64 subjects using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). A range of demographic and clinical information, including cigarette smoking status, was collected from each participant. The overall mean adherence rate of the study cohort was 72.8% (SD = 22.2%). Current smokers took 63.5% (SD = 22.1) of prescribed doses, compared with 84.8% (SD = 15.8%) in nonsmokers (p<.001). We found no difference in adherence rates between ex-smokers and subjects who had never smoked. In a multiple linear regression model, factors independently associated with lower adherence rates included current smoking (p = .001), lower CD4+ lymphocyte count at enrollment (p = .04), and lower educational attainment (p = .04). Depression and history of illicit substance use were not associated with nonadherence. In our study cohort, current cigarette smoking was an important and significant marker of inferior adherence to antiretroviral medication.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content?content=10.1080/14622200801908190
Thanks for your comment. Quitting smoking is good for your health as well as predicting better adherence to ART!
In conclusion quitting smoking is another recommendable factor for better adherence to medication, actually quitting smoking is a recommendable factor for all reasons. This is what I think and by the way I am a smoker constantly trying to quit. I am seriously considering professional help for that.