Structured medicines reviews in HIV outpatients: a feasibility study (The MOR Study)

Polypharmacy in people living with HIV (PLWH) increases the risks of medicine-related problems (events or circumstances involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interfere with desired health outcomes). We aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a Medicines Management Optimisation Review (MOR) toolkit in HIV outpatients.

This was a multi-centre randomized controlled study across four HIV centres. In all, 200 PLWH on combination antiretroviral therapy, either > 50 years old or < 50 years with other comorbidities, were enrolled to have a MOR or received standard pharmaceutical care. The primary outcome was the difference in the number of medicine-related problems (MRPs) between intervention and standard care groups at baseline and 6 months. Acceptability, cost of the intervention and health-related quality of life were also examined.

In all, 164 patients were analysed: 70 in the intervention group and 94 in the standard care group. A significant number of MRPs were detected in those patients receiving MOR compared with the standard care group at baseline (93 vs. 2; p = 0.001, z = -8.6, r = 0.6) and 6 months (33 vs. 3; p = 0.001, z = -5.7, r = 0.4). A significant reduction in the number of new MRPs at 6 months in the intervention group versus baseline was also observed (p = 0.001, Z = -3.7, r = 0.2); 44% of MRPs were fully resolved at baseline and 51% at 6 months. No changes in health-related quality of life following MOR or between MOR and standard care groups were observed. The MORs were highly acceptable among patients and healthcare professionals.

The MOR toolkit was feasible and acceptable, suggesting that HIV outpatient services might consider implementing MOR for targeted populations under their care.