Viral suppression in adolescents on antiretroviral treatment: review of the literature and critical appraisal of methodological challenges

Ferrand, R. A., Briggs, D., Ferguson, J., Penazzato, M., Armstrong, A., MacPherson, P. , Ross, D. A. and Kranzer, K. (2016) Viral suppression in adolescents on antiretroviral treatment: review of the literature and critical appraisal of methodological challenges. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 21(3), pp. 325-333. (doi: 10.1111/tmi.12656) (PMID:26681359) (PMCID:PMC4776345)

Abstract

Objective: Medication adherence is often suboptimal for adolescents with HIV, and establishing correct weight-based antiretroviral therapy dosing is difficult, contributing to virological failure. This review aimed to determine the proportion of adolescents achieving virological suppression after initiating ART. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched. Studies published between January 2004 and September 2014 including ≥50 adolescents taking ART and reporting on the proportion of virological suppressed participants were included. Results: From a total of 5316 potentially relevant citations, 20 studies were included. Only eight studies reported the proportion of adolescents that were virologically suppressed at a specified time point. The proportion of adolescents with virological suppression at 12 months ranged from 27 to 89%. Conclusion: Adolescent achievement of HIV virological suppression was highly variable. Improved reporting of virological outcomes from a wider range of settings is required to support efforts to improve HIV care and treatment for adolescents.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: RAF is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: MacPherson, Professor Peter
• Authors: Ferrand, R. A., Briggs, D., Ferguson, J., Penazzato, M., Armstrong, A., MacPherson, P., Ross, D. A., and Kranzer, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Tropical Medicine and International Health
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1360-2276
• ISSN (Online): 1365-3156
• Published Online: 18 December 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Tropical Medicine and International Health 21(3):325-333
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence