Mobile app improves HIV adherence by 49%
PHOENIX — mscripts and Avella Specialty Pharmacy recently completed analyzing data demonstrating the effectiveness of mobile pharmacy apps in helping HIV patients better manage their disease through improved medication adherence. Results from this analysis show that HIV patients using a mobile app — which can provide refill reminders, dosage reminders and other prescription management functionality —are 2.9 times more likely to be adherent.
Medication adherence is essential to the efficacy of HIV treatment: patients with this condition must maintain 90% adherence to achieve viral suppression, otherwise they risk an increase in treatment failure. This study used Proportion of Days Covered to assess the adherence rate of HIV patients who were taking both single- and multi-source medications including Atripla and Truvada. The data revealed that 79% of Avella’s HIV patients who were using the mscripts mobile application achieved a greater than 90% adherence rate, while 65.3% of Avella’s patients not using the platform had achieved a less than 90% adherence rate. This further demonstrates the impact that the mobile app had on already highly adherent population.
A 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 30% of HIV-positive Americans have achieved viral suppression. According to the National Institute of Health, loss of virologic control as a consequence of non-adherence to antiretroviral medication may lead to drug resistance and loss of future treatment options.
“HIV regimens have decreased in complexity, however, medication non-adherence continues to be a major cause of HIV-related morbidity and mortality,” stated Eric Sredzinski, EVP clinical affairs and quality assurance for Avella. “This new mobile health application is yet another opportunity for Avella to maintain its focus on providing comprehensive support to our patients while empowering them to achieve improved outcomes.”
This new data showcases the value of mobile health strategies in engaging patients and improving medication adherence. In addition to the increases in overall adherence, Avella’s HIV patients using the mscripts mobile application were nearly three times less likely to discontinue their medication refills.
“Avella’s patient population is already highly adherent when compared to the general population,” said mscripts’ CEO, Mark Cullen. “We’re excited to see that getting those patients on the mobile platform will make an even more significant impact.”