Predictors of changes in drug regimens for treating AIDS in children

To identify the causes of changes in therapeutic regimens for treating AIDS in children infected through vertical transmission. This was a case-control study in which the control group consisted of 49 children who had not had any changes to their antiretroviral regimen and the case group consisted of 62 children who had had changes between January 2000 and December 2005. Data from the patients' medical files and a semistructured interview were used. The data analysis was carried out using the SPSS software, and the chi-square test and logistic regression were applied. The main causes of changes in treatment were: increased viral load (48.4%), poor immunological response (46.6%) and clinical worsening (35.5%) of the patients. The adjustment of the data through logistic regression analysis showed that drug intolerance was the variable that contributed most to the change in medication ((adjusted) OR: 79.94; 95% CI: 6.28-1034.55). Adherence was not shown to be responsible for changes in the anti-retroviral therapy, and this was attributable to the organization of the service and actions of the interdisciplinary team.