Analysis of 11,072 HIV prevention prescriptions across seven years reveals that prescription duration significantly impacts medication adherence patterns. Patients receiving 90-day supplies of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstrated superior retention rates and fewer coverage gaps compared to those receiving standard 30-day prescriptions, with on-time renewal percentages increasing substantially with longer prescription periods.
This finding addresses a critical gap in HIV prevention strategy, where medication discontinuation remains a major barrier to population-level effectiveness. The data suggests that healthcare systems defaulting to monthly prescriptions may inadvertently create adherence obstacles, particularly problematic given PrEP's requirement for consistent daily dosing to maintain protective drug levels. The study's revelation of racial disparities—with Black and Hispanic patients less likely to receive extended prescriptions—highlights potential equity issues in preventive care delivery. While shorter prescriptions correlated with more frequent HIV testing, this benefit appears outweighed by the adherence advantages of longer supplies. For the estimated 1.2 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP, these findings suggest that prescription duration represents a modifiable factor that healthcare providers can leverage to improve real-world prevention outcomes.