Comparison of Error Incidence Between Single-Tablet Versus Multiple-Tablet INSTI-Based Regimens in the Inpatient Setting.

BACKGROUND

Errors related to antiretroviral therapy (ART) occur in up to 86% of hospitalized patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and may contribute to treatment failure, drug resistance, adverse effects, and toxicity. ART can be administered as a single-tablet regimen (STR) or multiple-tablet regimen (MTR), with limited data on whether the number of tablets affects inpatient error incidence.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the error rate of substituting dolutegravir-based STRs to an MTR while admitted.

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective, observational study in adult inpatients receiving ART for HIV evaluated continuation of bictegravir-based STR versus dolutegravir-based STR given as an MTR. The primary outcome was the composite error incidence when ART was dispensed as an STR versus MTR. Secondary endpoints included number of errors per patient encounter, between-group error types, time to error correction and pharmacist involvement, and conversion back to STR at discharge.

RESULTS

Of 514 patient encounters (257 bictegravir-based STR; 257 dolutegravir-based MTR), there was a significantly lower composite incidence of errors in the STR group versus the MTR group (23% vs 31.5%; P = 0.029). A significantly higher incidence of dose-related errors in the MTR group occurred related to renal or hepatic dose adjustments, which was the only significantly different between-group error type identified. Approximately one error per encounter was identified in both groups, with median time to error correction slightly over 1 day. Multiple-tablet regimens were converted back to an STR at discharge in 89.9% of admissions.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Providing INSTI-based ART as an STR while admitted may reduce ART-related medication errors and has potential to improve patient care; however, use of an STR may not address errors related to inappropriate dosing in organ dysfunction. Increased vigilance for medication errors is warranted when substituting with MTRs in inpatient settings.