Evaluation of HIV treatment outcomes with reduced frequency of clinical encounters and antiretroviral treatment refills: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Noelle Le TourneauAshley GermannRyan R ThompsonNathan FordSheree R SchwartzLaura K BeresAaloke ModyStefan David BaralElvin Hsing GengIngrid Eshun-WilsonPublished in: PLoS medicine (2022)
Based on this synthesis, extending clinical consultation intervals to 6 or 12 months and ART dispensing intervals to 6 months appears to result in similar retention to 3-month intervals, with less robust conclusions for viral suppression and mortality. Future research should ensure complete viral load outcome ascertainment, as well as explore mechanisms of effect, outcomes in other populations, and optimum delivery and monitoring strategies to ensure widespread applicability of reduced frequency visits across settings.