Objective:

To determine the factors associated with virologic failure in HIV patients on antiretroviral treatment treated in a Colombian health institution.

Method:

This was a cross-sectional observational retrospective analytical study of HIV patients receiving antiretroviral treatment between 2007‑2020. Sociodemographic, pharmacological and clinical variables were collected, including viral load, adherence, and the medication possession ratio. For statistical analysis, crude and adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals were obtained.

Results:

In a population of 5,406 patients, the proportion of virologic failure was 16.7%. Moreover, in the adjusted model, an association was found between virologic failure and time on treatment greater than one year, medication possession ratio under 80%, failure to claim medications from the pharmacy due to dose omission or discontinuation, adherence under 85%, CD4 count under 500, total cholesterol levels above 201 mg/dL, high density lipoproteins under 39 mg/dL and presence of mycosis.

Conclusions:

In our cohort of HIV patients, short treatment periods, CD4 counts under 200, a low medication possession ratio, failure to timely claim medications from the pharmacy due to omission or discontinuation, and a lower degree of adherence were factors related to virologic failure.