Factors associated with antiretroviral therapy interruption in hospitalized people living with HIV: a retrospective cohort

Abstract

Objective: To identify the factors associated with the interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV hospitalized in a medium-sized hospital in Rio Grande do Sul. Method: Retrospective and documentary cohort study with 208 participants, using data from electronic medical records from 2022 to 2024. The outcome was the discontinuation of ART, analyzed by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and therapeutic history. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Poisson regression with robust variance (p < 0.05) were applied. Results: The prevalence of discontinuation was 39.4% (95% CI: 33.0–45.8). The highest risk of interruption was observed among men (PR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.22–2.04), alcohol users (PR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.10–1.94), users of other drugs (PR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.45–2.72), homeless people (PR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.08–1.76), those with a travel time to the unit greater than 31 minutes (PR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.29–2.16), and those with a previous history of interruption (PR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.16–1.99). Conclusion: Interruption of ART is related to social and behavioral vulnerabilities, requiring intersectoral actions and nursing practices focused on continuity of care and strengthening of public policies to combat HIV.