Real‐Time and Wireless Assessment of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy With Co‐Encapsulated Ingestion Sensor in HIV‐Infected Patients: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Clinical and translational science Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 189 - 194
• Main Authors: Daar, Eric S., Rosen, Marc I., Wang, Yan, Siqueiros, Lisa, Shen, Jie, Guerrero, Mario, Xiong, Di, Dao, John, Young, Todd, Corado, Katya, Fletcher, Courtney V., Liu, Honghu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Capsules - adverse effects; Deglutition; Disease transmission; Drug Compounding - instrumentation; Drug Compounding - methods; Drug dosages; Drug stores; Encapsulation; FDA approval; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Ingestion; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Monitoring systems; Monitoring, Ambulatory - instrumentation; Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Patient Satisfaction; Pilot Projects; Semiconductors; Sensors; Studies; Text Messaging; Wearable Electronic Devices; Wireless Technology - instrumentation; Los Angeles California; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 1752-8054; 1752-8062
• DOI: 10.1111/cts.12701

Adherence with antiretroviral therapy is important for preventing disease progression and HIV transmission. The co‐encapsulated pill sensor system sends a signal through a cutaneous patch and allows real‐time monitoring of pill ingestion. A 16‐week pilot study used a sensor system in 15 HIV‐infected individuals with real‐time monitoring of pill‐taking with a personalized short message system text. System acceptability was assessed by survey at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Follow‐up occurred in 80% of subjects through 8 weeks. The system effectively collected measures of pill ingestion, which triggered text message reminders. Only 2 of 14 participants stated that co‐encapsulated pills were “unable to take” or “poorly tolerated.” At least 75% of respondents stated at each visit that the patch was very or somewhat comfortable. With regard to text message reminders, only 10–15% of the participants at any visit did not find the messages to be helpful. Larger studies will define the utility of this system to assess antiretroviral adherence relative to standard measures.