Impact of the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs Cohort Study on Abacavir Prescription Among Treatment-Naive, HIV-Infected Patients in Canada

Antoniou, T., Gillis, J., Loutfy, M. R., Cooper, C., Hogg, R. S., Klein, M. B., Machouf, N., Montaner, J. S. G., Rourke, S. B., Tsoukas, C., Raboud, J. M.

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)

Published online on July 25, 2013

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the trends in abacavir (ABC) prescription among antiretroviral (ARV) medication-naive individuals following the presentation of the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (DAD) cohort study.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of ARV medication-naive individuals in the Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC).

Results:

Between January 1, 2000, and February 28, 2010, a total of 7280 ARV medication-naive patients were included in CANOC. We observed a significant change in the proportion of new ABC prescriptions immediately following the release of DAD (–11%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –20% to –2.4%) and in the months following the presentation of these data (–0.66% per month; 95% CI: –1.2% to –0.073%). A post-DAD presentation decrease in the odds of being prescribed ABC versus tenofovir (TDF) was observed (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72 per year, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97).

Conclusions:

Presentation of the DAD was associated with a significant decrease in ABC use among ARV medication-naive, HIV-positive patients initiating therapy.