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Lifson AR, Grandits GA, Gardner EM, Wolff MJ, Pulik P, Williams I, Burman WJ. Quality of life assessment among HIV-positive persons entering the INSIGHT Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) trial. HIV Med 2015; 16 Suppl 1:88-96. [PMID: 25711327 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES With HIV treatment prolonging survival and HIV infection now managed as a chronic illness, quality of life (QOL) is important to evaluate in persons living with HIV (PLWH). We assessed at study entry the QOL of antiretroviral-naïve PLWH with CD4 counts > 500 cells/μL in the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) clinical trial. METHODS QOL was assessed with: (1) a visual analogue scale (VAS) for self-assessment of overall current health; (2) the Short-Form 12-Item Version 2 Health Survey(®) (SF-12V2), for which responses are summarized into eight individual QOL domains plus component summary scores for physical health [the Physical Health Component Summary (PCS)] and mental health [the Mental Health Component Summary (MCS)]. The VAS and eight domain scores were scaled from 0 to 100. Mean QOL measures were calculated overall and by demographic, clinical and behavioural factors. RESULTS A total of 4631 participants completed the VAS and 4119 the SF-12. The mean VAS score (with standard deviation) was 80.9 ± 15.7. Mean SF-12 domain scores were lowest for vitality (66.3 ± 26.4) and mental health (68.6 ± 21.4), and highest for physical functioning (89.3 ± 23.0) and bodily pain (88.0 ± 21.4). Using multiple linear regression, PCS scores were lower (P < 0.001) for Asians, North Americans, female participants, older participants, and those with less education, longer duration of known HIV infection, alcoholism/substance dependence and body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) . MCS scores were highest (P < 0.001) for Africans, South Americans and older participants, and lowest for female participants, current smokers and those with alcoholism/substance dependence. CONCLUSIONS In this primarily healthy population, QOL was mostly favourable, emphasizing that it is important that HIV treatments do not negatively impact QOL. Self-assessed physical health summary scores were higher than mental health scores. Factors such as older age and geographical region had different effects on perceived physical and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Lifson
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Abstract
More than 75 million people worldwide have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and there are now approximately 37 million individuals living with the infection. Untreated HIV replication causes progressive CD4(+) T cell loss and a wide range of immunological abnormalities, leading to an increased risk of infectious and oncological complications. HIV infection also contributes to cardiovascular disease, bone disease, renal and hepatic dysfunction and several other common morbidities. Antiretroviral drugs are highly effective at inhibiting HIV replication, and for individuals who can access and adhere to these drugs, combination antiretroviral therapy leads to durable (and probably lifelong) suppression of viral replication. Viral suppression enables immune recovery and the near elimination of the risk for developing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite effective treatment, HIV-infected individuals have a higher than expected risk of heart, bone, liver, kidney and neurological disease. When used optimally by an infected (or by an uninfected) person, antiretroviral drugs can virtually eliminate the risk of HIV transmission. Despite major advances in prevention sciences, HIV transmission remains common in many vulnerable populations, including men who have sex with men, injection drug users and sex workers. Owing to a lack of widespread HIV testing and the costs and toxicities associated with antiretroviral drugs, the majority of the infected population is not on effective antiretroviral therapy. To reverse the pandemic, improved prevention, treatment and implementation approaches are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Deeks
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Medicine, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, USA
| | - Julie Overbaugh
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Phillips
- Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Susan Buchbinder
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Medicine, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, USA.,San Francisco Department of Health, San Francisco, California, USA
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Margariti A, Chatzidimitriou D, Metallidis S, Pilalas D, Kourelis A, Papadimitriou E, Haidich AB, Malisiovas N, Skoura L. Comparing Abbott m2000 RealTime HIV test and Roche COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS Taqman HIV test, v2.0 in treated HIV-1 B and non-B subjects with low viraemia. J Med Virol 2015; 88:724-7. [PMID: 26331699 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Viral load testing is a valuable tool in HIV clinical care and research. Discrepancies among diverse viral load assays, especially with regard to non-B HIV-1 subtypes have been reported. Our study aimed to explore the impact of HIV subtype (B versus non-B) on the agreement between CAP/CTM, v2.0 and m2000 RealTime in treated HIV patients, focusing on low viral loads (<200 copies/ml). Our findings indicate that there is a significant difference in the performance of the compared assays in the low-viremic range and non-B subtypes, suggesting that a single assay should be used for follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolia Margariti
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Chatzidimitriou
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Simeon Metallidis
- 1st Internal Medicine Department, Infectious Diseases Division, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Pilalas
- 1st Internal Medicine Department, Infectious Diseases Division, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreas Kourelis
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Papadimitriou
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna-Bettina Haidich
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nicolaos Malisiovas
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Lemonia Skoura
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Northern Greece, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Johnson M, Samarina A, Xi H, Valdez Ramalho Madruga J, Hocqueloux L, Loutfy M, Fournelle MJ, Norton M, Van Wyk J, Zachry W, Martinez M. Barriers to access to care reported by women living with HIV across 27 countries. AIDS Care 2015; 27:1220-30. [PMID: 26168817 PMCID: PMC4673574 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1046416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Increased access to successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) is necessary in order to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Importantly, slightly over half of the people living with HIV are women. Small studies have described many barriers to accessing treatment and care among women living with HIV. This cross-sectional, non-interventional, epidemiological study assessed the prevalence of barriers to accessing care for women living with HIV across 27 countries, divided into four global regions. HIV-positive women attending routine clinical visits were offered the opportunity to participate in the study. Data describing the study sites and demographic characteristics of the participating women were collected. Participating women filled out questionnaires including the Barriers to Care Scale (BACS) questionnaire, on which they reported the extent to which they found each of the 12 potential barriers to accessing health care problematic. A total of 1931 women living with HIV were included in the study: 760 from Western Europe and Canada (WEC), 532 from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), 519 from Latin America (LA), and 120 from China. The mean age of participating women was 40.1 ± 11.4 years. A total of 88.2% were currently taking ART. A total of 81.8% obtained HIV treatment under a government health plan. The most prevalent barrier to care was community HIV/AIDS stigma. Community HIV/AIDS knowledge, lack of supportive/understanding work environments, lack of employment opportunities, and personal financial resources were also highly prevalent barriers to accessing care. These findings indicate that, more than 30 years after the start of the AIDS epidemic, stigma is still a major issue for women living with HIV. Continued efforts are needed to improve community education on HIV/AIDS in order to maximize access to health care among women living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Samarina
- b Saint-Petersburg City HIV Centre , Petersburg , Russia
| | - He Xi
- c Guangzhou Eight People's Hospital , Yuexiu District , Guangzhou , China
| | | | - Laurent Hocqueloux
- e Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans - La Source, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Orléans , France
| | - Mona Loutfy
- f Women's College Research Institute , University of Toronto, Toronto , Canada
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Wessman M, Aho I, Thorsteinsson K, Storgaard M, Johansen IS, Lunding S, Pedersen G, Lebech AM, Kivelä P, Helleberg M, Katzenstein TL, Weis N. Perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV: a questionnaire study from two Nordic countries. J Int AIDS Soc 2015; 18:19962. [PMID: 26037151 PMCID: PMC4452736 DOI: 10.7448/ias.18.1.19962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive population ages, issues concerning sexuality and fertility, among others, are becoming relevant. HIV is still surrounded by stigma and taboos, and there have been few studies conducted in industrialized settings concerning these questions. We therefore wanted to investigate the perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV (WLWH) in an industrialized setting, using a questionnaire. METHODS WLWH were recruited at their regular outpatient clinic visits, at the major Departments of Infectious Diseases in Denmark and Finland, from January 2012 to October 2013. A questionnaire was developed, study participants were informed of the nature of study and, if they agreed to participate and signed a consent form, they filled in the questionnaire. Demographic information on the participants was obtained from patient files (in Finland) or from a national HIV cohort (in Denmark). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA, version 11. RESULTS In total, 560 women were included in the study. The median age was 44 years. The majority were of white European origin, with fully suppressed HIV viral load, CD4 cell count >350 µL and mild or no symptoms of their HIV infection. A total of 62% were sexually active, stating condom use as their sole form of contraception. Of the sexually inactive women, one-third were in steady relationships. Eighty percent reported prior pregnancies, of which the majority had one or more children. Most children were born prior to the women's HIV diagnosis and the mode of conception was predominantly natural. One-quarter of the participating women desired pregnancy, while more than half did not. The remaining quarter either stated that they already had the desired number of children or chose not to answer the question. Fourteen percent stated that their HIV diagnosis ended their wish for children; of these women, the median time of diagnosis was between 1995 and 1996. Pregnancy had been attempted unsuccessfully in one-quarter of study participants. The final question inquired what the risk of mother-to-child transmission was, with all precautions taken. Fifteen percent estimated the risk to be above two percent. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the majority of WLWH in industrialized settings in Denmark and Finland have few HIV-related symptoms, are sexually active and have a strong desire for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wessman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Inka Aho
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristina Thorsteinsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Storgaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Isik S Johansen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Lunding
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Infectious Diseases, North Zealand Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark
| | - Gitte Pedersen
- Department of InfectiousDiseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pia Kivelä
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marie Helleberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Terese L Katzenstein
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Weis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Gorna
- AIDS Strategy, Advocacy and Policy (ASAP), Brighton BN1 2PG, UK.
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