Single pill transforming into a tree representing comprehensive health for HIV patients

Unlocking HIV Care: Are Single Tablet Regimens the Key to Better Health?

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 5 min read.

"Explore the impact of simplifying HIV treatment on managing other health conditions. Is one pill really better?"

For individuals living with HIV, advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have dramatically improved health outcomes and extended lifespans. As a result, many HIV-positive individuals now face the challenge of managing additional health conditions, or comorbidities, that are often associated with aging. These can include conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, creating a complex web of healthcare needs.

Managing both HIV and these additional health issues often requires taking multiple medications—a situation known as polypharmacy. Polypharmacy can lead to reduced adherence to medication schedules, increasing the risk of treatment failure and other complications. This is where single-tablet regimens (STRs) come into play. STRs combine multiple medications into a single pill, aiming to simplify treatment and improve adherence.

But does simplifying HIV treatment with STRs actually lead to better control of these other health conditions? This is the question that researchers have been exploring, seeking to understand whether the convenience of a single pill can translate into tangible health benefits beyond just managing the HIV virus itself.

The STR vs. MTR Debate: What the Research Says

Single pill transforming into a tree representing comprehensive health for HIV patients

A recent study investigated whether using STRs could help HIV-infected patients better manage their comorbidities compared to those taking multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs). The study, published in the Journal of HIV & Retro Virus, looked at a group of adult HIV-infected veterans receiving care within the Upstate New York Veterans' Affairs Healthcare Network. Researchers compared how well patients on STRs and MTRs were able to control conditions like blood pressure, glucose levels, and lipid levels.

The study involved a thorough review of patient data, including demographics, medical histories, medication use, and lab results. Patients were included if they were at least 18 years old, had a confirmed HIV diagnosis, were on antiretroviral therapy for at least three months, and had available measurements for blood pressure, glucose, or lipid levels. The goal was to determine if there were significant differences in achieving or maintaining control of these cardiometabolic comorbidities between those on STRs and those on MTRs.

The results of the study revealed some interesting insights:

The study included 1,202 subjects, with 165 receiving STRs and 1,037 on MTRs.
The average age of participants was about 50.6 years.
Most participants were male (97.2%), with a mix of Caucasian (45.8%) and Black (49.8%) individuals.
Researchers found no significant differences in achieving or maintaining control of cardiometabolic comorbidities between the STR and MTR groups.

After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that there didn't appear to be meaningful differences between STRs and MTRs in terms of controlling comorbidities. This suggests that while STRs may offer convenience, they don't necessarily lead to better management of other health conditions compared to MTRs, at least in the context of this study. It’s important to note that this finding was consistent across all the specific health outcomes evaluated, including blood pressure, glucose, and lipid control. The researchers adjusted for various confounding factors to ensure the results were as accurate as possible.

The Future of HIV Treatment: A Holistic Approach

While this study suggests that STRs may not directly improve comorbidity control, they remain a valuable option for simplifying HIV treatment and potentially improving adherence. The researchers emphasize that future studies should continue to explore the impact of different ART regimens on both HIV and non-HIV health outcomes. As newer STR products become available, it will be important to reassess their effects in diverse patient populations. Ultimately, the best approach to HIV care involves a holistic strategy that considers individual patient needs, preferences, and overall health goals.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.21767/2471-9676.100032, Alternate LINK

Title: Clinical Outcomes Associated With Single Tablet Regimens: Relationship Between Antiretroviral Therapy Pill Burden And Control Of Concomitant Comorbidities Among Hiv-Infected Patients

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: Journal of HIV & Retro Virus

Publisher: Scitechnol Biosoft Pvt. Ltd.

Authors: Weston Malek, Jenna Yager, Nicholas Britt, Caroline Morse, Zachary Hecox, Adam Hoye Simek, Steven Sullivan, Nimish Patel

Published: 2017-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are single-tablet regimens (STRs) and how do they aim to improve HIV treatment?

Single-tablet regimens (STRs) combine multiple medications into one pill to simplify HIV treatment. This approach aims to enhance adherence to medication schedules by reducing the pill burden. The idea is that easier regimens may lead to better and more consistent medication-taking habits, which is crucial for effectively managing HIV and preventing drug resistance. While STRs offer convenience, research is ongoing to determine if they lead to improved management of comorbidities compared to multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs).

What specific health aspects did the study examine when comparing single-tablet regimens (STRs) and multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs) in HIV-infected patients?

The study specifically investigated whether HIV-infected patients using single-tablet regimens (STRs) showed better management of comorbidities—such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia—compared to those on multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs). Researchers analyzed data from adult HIV-infected veterans, focusing on the control of blood pressure, glucose levels, and lipid levels to determine if simplifying medication into a single pill translated to tangible health benefits beyond HIV management.

What were the main findings of the study comparing single-tablet regimens (STRs) and multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs) in managing comorbidities among HIV patients?

The study comparing single-tablet regimens (STRs) and multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs) found no significant differences in achieving or maintaining control of cardiometabolic comorbidities, including blood pressure, glucose, and lipid levels. This suggests that while STRs provide convenience, they do not necessarily lead to better management of other health conditions compared to MTRs. The results were consistent across all specific health outcomes evaluated after adjusting for confounding factors.

What is polypharmacy, and how do single-tablet regimens (STRs) address the challenges associated with it in HIV care?

Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications simultaneously, which is common among individuals managing both HIV and other health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Polypharmacy can lead to reduced adherence to medication schedules, increasing the risk of treatment failure and other complications. Single-tablet regimens (STRs) are designed to combat polypharmacy by combining multiple drugs into a single pill, aiming to simplify treatment and improve adherence, though their direct impact on comorbidity control is still being researched.

Considering the study's findings, what is the future direction for HIV treatment and the role of single-tablet regimens (STRs) in a holistic approach?

While the study indicated that single-tablet regimens (STRs) may not directly improve comorbidity control compared to multiple-tablet regimens (MTRs), they remain valuable for simplifying HIV treatment and potentially enhancing adherence. Future research should explore the impact of newer STR products and diverse patient populations. A holistic approach that considers individual patient needs, preferences, and overall health goals is essential for optimal HIV care.