%0 Journal Article %J Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America %D 2002 %T The consistency of adherence to antiretroviral therapy predicts biologic outcomes for human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons in clinical trials. %A Mannheimer, Sharon %A Friedland, Gerald %A Matts, John %A Child, Carroll %A Chesney, Margaret %K Adult %K Age Factors %K Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active %K Clinical Trials as Topic %K Female %K Guideline Adherence %K HIV Infections %K Humans %K Male %K Patient Compliance %K Statistics as Topic %K Treatment Outcome %N 8 %P 1115-21 %V 34 %X We prospectively studied long-term antiretroviral adherence patterns and their impact on biologic outcomes for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants in 2 randomized, multicenter clinical trials. For the period from baseline to month 12 of the study, participants who reported adherence levels of 100%, 80%-99%, and 0%-79% had plasma HIV RNA levels that decreased by 2.77, 2.33, and 0.67 log(10) copies/mL, respectively (P<.001), whereas their CD4 counts increased by 179, 159, and 53 cells/mm(3), respectively (P<.001). Adherence predicted nondetectable HIV RNA levels (<50 copies/mL) at 12 months of follow-up (P<.001). The HIV RNA level was nondetectable in 72% of participants who reported 100% adherence at all 4 follow-up visits, compared with 66%, 41%, 35%, and 13% of participants who reported 100% adherence at 3, 2, 1, or 0 follow-up visits, respectively (P<.001). Nonwhite race was associated with poorer adherence (P<.001), and older age was associated with better adherence (P<.001). %8 2002 Apr 15