HIV-positive individuals purchasing generic FDC antiretroviral therapy have high rates of adherence and viral suppression, low rates of antiretroviral resistance, and robust CD4 cell responses. Adherence is an important predictor of survival with full viral suppression. Treatment interruptions are an important predictor of drug resistance.

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Food insecurity is a risk factor for both HIV transmission and worse HIV clinical outcomes. We examined the prevalence of and factors associated with food insecurity among homeless and marginally housed HIV-infected individuals in San Francisco recruited from the Research on Access to Care in the Homeless Cohort. We used multiple logistic regression to determine sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with food insecurity, which was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Among 250 participants, over half (53.6%) were food insecure. Higher odds of food insecurity was associated with being white, low CD4 counts, recent crack use, lack of health insurance, and worse physical and mental health. Food insecurity is highly prevalent among HIV-infected marginally housed individuals in San Francisco, and is associated with poor physical and mental health and poor social functioning. Screening for and addressing food insecurity should be a critical component of HIV prevention and treatment programs.

Although, single tablet regimen (STR) efavirenz, emtricibine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF) may be appealing in HIV infected persons who are at high risk for non-adherence, the degree to which this simplified formulation affects adherence is not known. The virologic effectiveness of this STR in a potentially non-adherent population remains a concern, given the rapid selection of drug-resistance seen with these drugs. We performed a prospective observational study assessing adherence and virologic response to EFV/FTC/TDF STR among a cohort of homeless and marginally housed individuals. We compared adherence and viral suppression to historical controls followed in the same cohort. Adherence was higher in EFV/FTC/TDF STR regimen compared to non-one-pill once daily therapy (p=0.0060) after controlling for multiple confounders. Viral suppression (HIV RNA <50 c/ml) was greater in EFV/FTC/TDF STR than non-one pill daily regimens (69.2% vs 46.5%; p=0.02), but there was no difference in viral suppression after controlling for adherence. Once daily EFV/TNF/FTC STR appears to be a reasonable option for individuals with multiple barriers to adherence. Randomized clinical trials addressing various therapeutic strategies for this patient population are needed.