Ward KM, Falade-Nwulia O, Moon J, et al. - Despite poor adherence and substance use disorders (SUDs), treatment persistence resulted in high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates among HIV/HCV (hepatitis C virus) patients.

• One hundred ten of the 144 participants with HIV/HCV and SUDs began a 12-week treatment course under one of three conditions (usual care, peer mentors, and cash incentives).

• The majority of individuals (n = 105) continued treatment once it was initiated, with 95% (n = 100) reaching SVR.

• By the biomarker phosphatidylethanol (PEth ≥ 50 ng/mL), one-third (34%) of patients reported moderate/heavy alcohol use, and 44% had urine toxicological positive for cocaine or heroin at recruitment.

• The proportion of people with strong adherence was 72% (n = 76), while the number of people with low adherence was 28%.

• Despite the fact that low adherence was related to moderate/heavy alcohol use by PEth, SVR did not differ according to adherence (p = 0.702), and the majority of individuals (97%) with low adherence attained SVR.