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Keene CM, Ragunathan A, Euvrard J, English M, McKnight J, Orrell C. Measuring patient engagement with HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping study. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e26025. [PMID: 36285618 PMCID: PMC9597383 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Engagement with HIV care is a multi-dimensional, dynamic process, critical to maintaining successful treatment outcomes. However, measures of engagement are not standardized nor comprehensive. This undermines our understanding of the scope of challenges with engagement and whether interventions have an impact, complicating patient and programme-level decision-making. This study identified and characterized measures of engagement to support more consistent and comprehensive evaluation. METHODS We conducted a scoping study to systematically categorize measures the health system could use to evaluate engagement with HIV care for those on antiretroviral treatment. Key terms were used to search literature databases (Embase, PsychINFO, Ovid Global-Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and the World Health Organization Index Medicus), Google Scholar and stakeholder-identified manuscripts, ultimately including English evidence published from sub-Saharan Africa from 2014 to 2021. Measures were extracted, organized, then reviewed with key stakeholders. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We screened 14,885 titles/abstracts, included 118 full-texts and identified 110 measures of engagement, categorized into three engagement dimensions ("retention," "adherence" and "active self-management"), a combination category ("multi-dimensional engagement") and "treatment outcomes" category (e.g. viral load as an end-result reflecting that engagement occurred). Retention reflected status in care, continuity of attendance and visit timing. Adherence was assessed by a variety of measures categorized into primary (prescription not filled) and secondary measures (medication not taken as directed). Active self-management reflected involvement in care and self-management. Three overarching use cases were identified: research to make recommendations, routine monitoring for quality improvement and strategic decision-making and assessment of individual patients. CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneity in conceptualizing engagement with HIV care is reflected by the broad range of measures identified and the lack of consensus on "gold-standard" indicators. This review organized metrics into five categories based on the dimensions of engagement; further work could identify a standardized, minimum set of measures useful for comprehensive evaluation of engagement for different use cases. In the interim, measurement of engagement could be advanced through the assessment of multiple categories for a more thorough evaluation, conducting sensitivity analyses with commonly used measures for more comparable outputs and using longitudinal measures to evaluate engagement patterns. This could improve research, programme evaluation and nuanced assessment of individual patient engagement in HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M. Keene
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ayesha Ragunathan
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Euvrard
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Mike English
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Jacob McKnight
- Health Systems CollaborativeOxford Centre for Global Health ResearchNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Catherine Orrell
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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2
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Nardell MF, Adeoti O, Peters C, Kakuhikire B, Govathson-Mandimika C, Long L, Pascoe S, Tsai AC, Katz IT. Men missing from the HIV care continuum in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e25889. [PMID: 35324089 PMCID: PMC8944222 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Men are missing along the HIV care continuum. However, the estimated proportions of men in sub‐Saharan Africa meeting the UNAIDS 95‐95‐95 goals vary substantially between studies. We sought to estimate proportions of men meeting each of the 95‐95‐95 goals across studies in sub‐Saharan Africa, describe heterogeneity, and summarize qualitative evidence on factors influencing care engagement. Methods We systematically searched PubMed and Embase for peer‐reviewed articles published between 1 January 2014 and 16 October 2020. We included studies involving men ≥15 years old, with data from 2009 onward, reporting on at least one 95‐95‐95 goal in sub‐Saharan Africa. We estimated pooled proportions of men meeting these goals using DerSimonion‐Laird random effects models, stratifying by study population (e.g. studies focusing exclusively on men who have sex with men vs. studies that did not), facility setting (healthcare vs. community site), region (eastern/southern Africa vs. western/central Africa), outcome measurement (e.g. threshold for viral load suppression), median year of data collection (before vs. during or after 2017) and quality criteria. Data from qualitative studies exploring barriers to men's HIV care engagement were summarized using meta‐synthesis. Results and discussion We screened 14,896 studies and included 129 studies in the meta‐analysis, compiling data over the data collection period. Forty‐seven studies reported data on knowledge of serostatus, 43 studies reported on antiretroviral therapy use and 74 studies reported on viral suppression. Approximately half of men with HIV reported not knowing their status (0.49 [95% CI, 0.41–0.58; range, 0.09–0.97]) or not being on treatment (0.58 [95% CI, 0.51–0.65; range, 0.07–0.97]), while over three‐quarters of men achieved viral suppression on treatment (0.79 [95% CI, 0.77–0.81; range, 0.39–0.97]. Heterogeneity was high, with variation in estimates across study populations, settings and outcomes. The meta‐synthesis of 40 studies identified three primary domains in which men described risks associated with engagement in HIV care: perceived social norms, health system challenges and poverty. Conclusions Psychosocial and systems‐level interventions that change men's perceptions of social norms, improve trust in and accessibility of the health system, and address costs of accessing care are needed to better engage men, especially in HIV testing and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F Nardell
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Oluwatomi Adeoti
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carson Peters
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Bernard Kakuhikire
- Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Caroline Govathson-Mandimika
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Long
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sophie Pascoe
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Alexander C Tsai
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ingrid T Katz
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Global Health Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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3
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Musa J, Mehta SD, Achenbach CJ, Evans CT, Jordan N, Magaji FA, Pam VC, Daru PH, Silas OA, Sagay AS, Anorlu R, Zheng Y, Maiga M, Adewole IF, Murphy RL, Hou L, Simon MA. HIV and development of epithelial cell abnormalities in women with prior normal cervical cytology in Nigeria. Infect Agent Cancer 2020; 15:50. [PMID: 32760435 PMCID: PMC7392708 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-020-00316-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-associated cellular immune dysfunction has been linked to higher risk of cervical dysplasia and cancer in HIV infected women. We sought to understand the relationship between HIV and development of epithelial cell abnormalities (ECA) at follow-up in women with prior normal cervical cytology (NCC). Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of women who received a Pap test at the Operation Stop Cervical Cancer Unit in Jos, Nigeria over a 10-year period (2006-2016). We analyzed the data of women with NCC at first Pap who had at least one follow-up cytology result for time-to-detection of ECA. We determined follow-up time in years from date of first NCC to date of first ECA report or date of last NCC follow up report with censoring at last follow-up date or December 31st, 2016 whichever came first. The primary outcome was development of any ECA as defined by the Bethesda 2001 reporting system. We identified demographic and clinical factors associated with incident ECA using multivariable Cox regression. Results A total of 1599 women were eligible for this analysis. Overall, 3.7% (57/1556) of women reported being HIV infected. The median age at first Pap was 39 years (IQR; 33-45). The HIV infected women were younger (36.3 ± 8.1) compared to those uninfected (39.3 ± 6.6), p = 0.005. After an accrued follow-up time of 3809 person-years (PYs), 243 women (15%) had an ECA with an event rate of 6.38 per 100 PYs. Women ≥35 years at first Pap were more likely to have an ECA compared to those < 35 years (7.5 per 100 PYs vs 3.8 per 100 PYs, HR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.8). HIV status was not significantly associated with developing ECA in either unadjusted (7.4 per 100 PYs vs 6.4 per 100 PYs, HR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.53, 2.3) or adjusted analyses (aHR = 1.78; 95% CI: 0.87, 3.65). Conclusion Women living with HIV and on successful antiretroviral treatment may not have a differential hazard in the development of ECA during follow up after a prior normal Pap. Offering a repeat CCS to women who are 35 years or older irrespective of HIV status is likely an effective strategy in resource limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonah Musa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.,Center for Global Oncology, Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Supriya D Mehta
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Chad J Achenbach
- Center for Global Oncology, Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Charlesnika T Evans
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Global Health, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA.,Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL USA
| | - Neil Jordan
- Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Francis A Magaji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria
| | - Victor C Pam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria
| | - Patrick H Daru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria
| | - Olugbenga A Silas
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria
| | - Atiene S Sagay
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria
| | - Rose Anorlu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Mamoudou Maiga
- Center for Global Oncology, Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.,Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, University of Sciences, Bamako, Mali
| | - Isaac F Adewole
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Robert L Murphy
- Center for Global Oncology, Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Center for Global Oncology, Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.,Center for Population Epigenetics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Melissa A Simon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
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Phillips TK, Orrell C, Brittain K, Zerbe A, Abrams EJ, Myer L. Measuring retention in HIV care: the impact of data sources and definitions using routine data. AIDS 2020; 34:749-759. [PMID: 32004202 PMCID: PMC7109335 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Measuring retention is critical for antiretroviral therapy (ART) management and program monitoring; however, many definitions and data sources, usually from single health facilities, are used. We used routine electronic data, linked across facilities, to examine the impact of definitions and data sources on retention estimates among women in Cape Town, South Africa. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS We compiled routine electronic laboratory, pharmacy and clinic visit data for 617 women who started ART during pregnancy (2013-2014) and estimated 24-month retention using different definitions and data sources. We used logistic regression to assess consistency of associations between risk factors and retention, and receiver operating characteristics analyses to describe how different retention estimates predict viremia at 12 months on ART. RESULTS Using all available data sources, retention ranged from 41% (no gap >180 days) to 72% (100% 12-month visit constancy). Laboratory data (expected infrequently) underestimated retention compared with clinic visit data that identified more than 80% of women considered retained in all definitions. In all estimates, associations with known risk factors for nonretention remained consistent and retention declined over time: 77, 65 and 58% retained using all data sources in months 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24, respectively (P < 0.001). The 180-day gap definition was most strongly associated with viremia (odds ratio 24.3 95% confidence interval 12.0-48.9, all data sources). CONCLUSION Researchers must carefully consider the most appropriate retention definition and data source depending on available data. Presenting more than one approach may be warranted to obtain estimates that are context-appropriate and comparable across settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin K Phillips
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
| | - Catherine Orrell
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kirsty Brittain
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
| | - Allison Zerbe
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health
| | - Elaine J Abrams
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health
- Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Landon Myer
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
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5
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Abah IO, Ncube NBQ, Bradley HA, AgbaJi OO, Kanki P. Antiretroviral Therapy-associated Adverse Drug Reactions and their Effects on Virologic Failure- A Retrospective Cohort Study in Nigeria. Curr HIV Res 2019; 16:436-446. [PMID: 30767743 PMCID: PMC6446442 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190214144609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can rapidly reverse the gains of ART resulting in poor health outcomes. We need an improved under-standing of specific ART-related ADRs that influence virologic outcomes. Objective: To investigate the frequency of clinical ADRs and assess their effect on virologic failure in patients on ART. Method: We described the prevalence of major clinical ADRs, and the association between specific ADRs and virologic failure in a clinic cohort of HIV-1 infected Nigerians aged ≥18 years, on first-line ART between June 2004 and February 2012. Multivariable logistic regression was run to identify predictors of virologic failure at 24 and 72 weeks of ART. Results: Data of 12,115 patients with a median age of 34 (interquartile range: 29-41) years, and pre-dominantly females (67%) were evaluated. Overall, 957 (7.9%) patients experienced at least one ADR during a median follow-up period of 4 years (interquartile range: 1-7). The three most prevalent ADRs were lipodystrophy (2.6%), anemia (1.9%), and skin rash (0.7%). Virologic failure rate was 36% and 34% at 24 and 72 weeks of ART, respectively. Anemia independently predicted the odds of virologic failure at 72 weeks of ART (adjusted odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI: 1.2-2.51); adjusted for sex, age, pre-treatment CD4+ cell count, antiretroviral regimen, and medication refill adherence. Conclusion: Antiretroviral therapy-associated anemia increases the likelihood of late virologic failure. We recommend routine monitoring of hemoglobin levels and prompt management of anemia in all pa-tients on ART as a strategy to improve virologic success rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac O Abah
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.,Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Nondumiso B Q Ncube
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Hazel A Bradley
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Oche O AgbaJi
- Department of Medicine Jos University Teaching Hospital/University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Phyllis Kanki
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Yildirim C, Garvie PA, Chernoff M, Wilkins ML, Patton ED, Williams PL, Nichols SL. The Role of Pharmacy Refill Measures in Assessing Adherence and Predicting HIV Disease Markers in Youth with Perinatally-Acquired HIV (PHIV). AIDS Behav 2019; 23:2109-2120. [PMID: 30929147 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02468-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antiretroviral (ARV) adherence is critical in monitoring disease response in youth with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV). We used pharmacy refill (PR) information for PHIV youth from the PHACS Memory Sub-study to calculate medication availability over 2, 4, and 6 months. PR, a proxy of adherence, was compared with self-reported 7-day adherence in predicting suppressed viral load (SVL < 400 copies/mL) and higher CD4% (≥ 25%). Among 159 PHIV youth, 79% were adherent by 7-day recall, and 62, 55, and 48% by PR over 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively. Agreement between 7-day recall and PR adherence was weak (Kappa = 0.09-0.25). In adjusted logistic regression models, adherence showed associations with SVL for 7-day recall (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.08, 7.15) and all PR coverage periods (6-month: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.22, 8.65). Similar associations were observed with higher CD4%. PR measures were predictive of study retention. Findings suggest a possibly independent role of PR adherence measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cenk Yildirim
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, FXB Building 5th floor, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Patricia A Garvie
- Research Department, Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Miriam Chernoff
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, FXB Building 5th floor, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | | | - Paige L Williams
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, FXB Building 5th floor, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharon L Nichols
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0935, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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7
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Pharmacy Refill Data are Poor Predictors of Virologic Treatment Outcomes in Adolescents with HIV in Botswana. AIDS Behav 2019; 23:2130-2137. [PMID: 30387024 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In adults living with HIV, pharmacy refill data are good predictors of virologic failure (VF). The utility of pharmacy refill data for predicting VF in adolescents has not been reported. We evaluated data from 291 adolescents on antiretroviral therapy. The main outcome measure was VF, defined as two consecutive HIV viral load measurements ≥ 400 copies/mL during 24-months of follow-up. Pharmacy refill non-adherence was defined as two consecutive refill adherence measurements < 95% during the same period. Fifty-three (18%) adolescents experienced VF. One hundred twenty-eight (44%) adolescents had refill non-adherence. Refill non-adherence had poor discriminative ability for indicating VF (receiver operating characteristic AUC = 0.60). Sensitivity and specificity for predicting VF was poor (60% (95% CI 46-74%) and 60% (95% CI 53-66%), respectively). The lack of a viable surrogate for VF in adolescents highlights the urgent need for more access to virologic testing and novel methods of monitoring adolescent treatment adherence.
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8
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Miles CH, Shpitser I, Kanki P, Meloni S, Tchetgen EJT. Quantifying an Adherence Path-Specific Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy in the Nigeria PEPFAR Program. J Am Stat Assoc 2018; 112:1443-1452. [PMID: 32042214 DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2017.1295862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Since the early 2000s, evidence has accumulated for a significant differential effect of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load suppression. This finding was replicated in our data from the Harvard President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program in Nigeria. Investigators were interested in finding the source of these differences, i.e., understanding the mechanisms through which one regimen outperforms another, particularly via adherence. This question can be naturally formulated via mediation analysis with adherence playing the role of a mediator. Existing mediation analysis results, however, have relied on an assumption of no exposure-induced confounding of the intermediate variable, and generally require an assumption of no unmeasured confounding for nonparametric identification. Both assumptions are violated by the presence of drug toxicity. In this paper, we relax these assumptions and show that certain path-specific effects remain identified under weaker conditions. We focus on the path-specific effect solely mediated by adherence and not by toxicity and propose an estimator for this effect. We illustrate with simulations and present results from a study applying the methodology to the Harvard PEPFAR data. Supplementary materials are available online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb H Miles
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7358
| | - Ilya Shpitser
- Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218-2608
| | - Phyllis Kanki
- Research Associate, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Seema Meloni
- Research Associate, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Eric J Tchetgen Tchetgen
- Professor, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
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9
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Phillips T, Brittain K, Mellins CA, Zerbe A, Remien RH, Abrams EJ, Myer L, Wilson IB. A Self-Reported Adherence Measure to Screen for Elevated HIV Viral Load in Pregnant and Postpartum Women on Antiretroviral Therapy. AIDS Behav 2017; 21:450-461. [PMID: 27278548 PMCID: PMC5145763 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1448-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Maternal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a concern and monitoring adherence presents a significant challenge in low-resource settings. We investigated the association between self-reported adherence, measured using a simple three-item scale, and elevated viral load (VL) among HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women on ART in Cape Town, South Africa. This is the first reported use of this scale in a non-English speaking setting and it achieved good psychometric characteristics (Cronbach α = 0.79). Among 452 women included in the analysis, only 12 % reported perfect adherence on the self-report scale, while 92 % had a VL <1000 copies/mL. Having a raised VL was consistently associated with lower median adherence scores and the area under the curve for the scale was 0.599, 0.656 and 0.642 using a VL cut-off of ≥50, ≥1000 and ≥10000 copies/mL, respectively. This simple self-report adherence scale shows potential as a first-stage adherence screener in this setting. Maternal adherence monitoring in low resource settings requires attention in the era of universal ART, and the value of this simple adherence scale in routine ART care settings warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin Phillips
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Kirsty Brittain
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Claude A Mellins
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allison Zerbe
- ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert H Remien
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaine J Abrams
- ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Landon Myer
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ira B Wilson
- Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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10
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Fonsah JY, Njamnshi AK, Kouanfack C, Qiu F, Njamnshi DM, Tagny CT, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Mbanya D, Heaton R, Kanmogne GD. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Yaoundé-Cameroon: Association with Opportunistic Infections, Depression, ART Regimen and Side Effects. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170893. [PMID: 28141867 PMCID: PMC5283684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Following global efforts to increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) access in Sub-Saharan Africa, ART coverage among HIV-infected Cameroonians increased from 0% in 2003 to 22% in 2014. However, the success of current HIV treatment programs depends not only on access to ART, but also on retention in care and good treatment adherence. This is necessary to achieve viral suppression, prevent virologic failure, and reduce viral transmission and HIV/AIDS-related deaths. Previous studies in Cameroon showed poor adherence, treatment interruption, and loss to follow-up among HIV+ subjects on ART, but the factors that influence ART adherence are not well known. In the current cross-sectional study, patient/self-reported questionnaires and pharmacy medication refill data were used to quantify ART adherence and determine the factors associated with increased risk of non-adherence among HIV-infected Cameroonians. We demonstrated that drug side-effects, low CD4 cell counts and higher viral loads are associated with increased risk of non-adherence, and compared to females, males were more likely to forego ART because of side effects (p<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that subjects with opportunistic infections (on antibiotics) had 2.42-times higher odds of having been non-adherent (p<0.001). Multivariable analysis controlling for ART regimen, age, gender, and education showed that subjects with opportunistic infections had 3.1-times higher odds of having been non-adherent (p<0.0003), with significantly longer periods of non-adherence, compared to subjects without opportunistic infections (p = 0.02). We further showed that compared to younger subjects (≤40 years), older subjects (>40 years) were less likely to be non-adherent (p<0.01) and had shorter non-adherent periods (p<0.0001). The presence of depression symptoms correlated with non-adherence to ART during antibiotic treatment (r = 0.53, p = 0.04), and was associated with lower CD4 cell counts (p = 0.04) and longer non-adherent periods (p = 0.04). Change in ART regimen was significantly associated with increased likelihood of non-adherence and increased duration of the non-adherence period. Addressing these underlying risk factors could improve ART adherence, retention in care and treatment outcomes for HIV/AIDS patients in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Y. Fonsah
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alfred K. Njamnshi
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Charles Kouanfack
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Fang Qiu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Dora M. Njamnshi
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Claude T. Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Robert Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Georgette D. Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Heestermans T, Browne JL, Aitken SC, Vervoort SC, Klipstein-Grobusch K. Determinants of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMJ Glob Health 2016; 1:e000125. [PMID: 28588979 PMCID: PMC5321378 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The rapid scale up of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has resulted in an increased focus on patient adherence. Non-adherence can lead to drug-resistant HIV caused by failure to achieve maximal viral suppression. Optimal treatment requires the identification of patients at high risk of suboptimal adherence and targeted interventions. The aim of this review was to identify and summarise determinants of adherence to ART among HIV-positive adults. DESIGN Systematic review of adherence to ART in SSA from January 2002 to October 2014. METHODS A systematic search was performed in 6 databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Popline, Global Health Library) for qualitative and quantitative articles. Risk of bias was assessed. A meta-analysis was conducted for pooled estimates of effect size on adherence determinants. RESULTS Of the 4052 articles screened, 146 were included for final analysis, reporting on determinants of 161 922 HIV patients with an average adherence score of 72.9%. Main determinants of non-adherence were use of alcohol, male gender, use of traditional/herbal medicine, dissatisfaction with healthcare facility and healthcare workers, depression, discrimination and stigmatisation, and poor social support. Promoters of adherence included counselling and education interventions, memory aids, and active disclosure among people living with HIV. Determinants of health status had conflicting influence on adherence. CONCLUSIONS The sociodemographic, psychosocial, health status, treatment-related and intervention-related determinants are interlinked and contribute to optimal adherence. Clinics providing ART in SSA should therefore design targeted interventions addressing these determinants to optimise health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Heestermans
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joyce L Browne
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Susan C Aitken
- Ndlovu Research Consortium, Elandsdoorn, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sigrid C Vervoort
- University Medical Centre Utrecht Cancer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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12
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Actionable adherence monitoring to optimise intervention. Lancet HIV 2016; 4:e5-e6. [PMID: 27864001 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(16)30191-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Bezabhe WM, Chalmers L, Bereznicki LR, Peterson GM. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Virologic Failure: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e3361. [PMID: 27082595 PMCID: PMC4839839 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000003361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The often cited need to achieve ≥95% (nearly perfect) adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for successful virologic outcomes in HIV may present a barrier to initiation of therapy in the early stages of HIV. This meta-analysis synthesized 43 studies (27,905 participants) performed across >26 countries, to determine the relationship between cut-off point for optimal adherence to ART and virologic outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effect model to calculate pooled odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. The mean rate of patients reporting optimal adherence was 63.4%. Compared with suboptimal adherence, optimal adherence was associated with a lower risk of virologic failure (0.34; 95% CI: 0.26-0.44). There were no significant differences in the pooled odds ratios among different optimal adherence thresholds (≥98-100%, ≥95%, ≥80-90%). Study design (randomized controlled trial vs observational study) (regression coefficient 0.74, 95% CI: 0.04-1.43, P < 0.05) and study region (developing vs developed countries; regression coefficient 0.56, 95% CI: 0.01-1.12, P < 0.05) remained as independent predictors of between-study heterogeneity, with more patients with optimal adherence from developing countries or randomized controlled trials experiencing virologic failure. The threshold for optimal adherence to achieve better virologic outcomes appears to be wider than the commonly used cut-off point (≥95% adherence). The cut-off point for optimal adherence could be redefined to a slightly lower level to encourage the prescribing ART at an early stage of HIV infection.
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14
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Ojeh VB, Naima N, Abah IO, Falang KD, Lucy O, London I, Dady C, Agaba P, Agbaji O. Pattern of drug therapy problems and interventions in ambulatory patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2015; 13:566. [PMID: 26131046 PMCID: PMC4482846 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2015.02.566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We describe the frequency and types of drug therapy problems (DTPs), and interventions carried out to resolve them, among a cohort of HIV-infected patients on ART in Jos, Nigeria. METHODS A prospective pharmacists' intervention study was conducted between January and August 2012 at the outpatient HIV clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Pharmacists identified DTPs and made recommendations to resolve them. The main outcome measures were number of DTPs encountered, interventions proposed and acceptance rate of recommendations. RESULTS A total of 42,416 prescriptions were dispensed to 9339 patients during the eight months study. A total of 420 interventions (Intervention rate of 1 per 100 prescriptions) were made to resolve DTPs in 401 (4.3%) patients with a mean age of 41 (SD=10) years, and made up of 73% females. DTPs encountered were drug omission (n=89, 21.2%), unnecessary drug (n=55, 13.1%) and wrong drug indication (n=55, 13.1%). Recommendations offered included; Addition of another drug to the therapy (n=87, 20.7%), rectification of incomplete prescriptions (n=85, 20.2%), change of drug or dosage (n=67, 16.0%), and discontinuation of the offending drug (n=59, 14.0%). A total of 389 (93%) out of 420 of the recommendations were accepted. In all, 50.4% (212) of the problematic prescriptions were changed and dispensed, 22.2% (89) were clarified and dispensed, while wrong identities were corrected in 11.7% (49). However, 7.5% (30) prescriptions were dispensed as prescribed, 5.2% (21) were not dispensed, and 3% (12) were unresolved. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that pharmacists-initiated interventions can ameliorate DTPs in patients receiving ART given the high intervention acceptance rate recorded. The implication of this finding is that pharmacists with requisite training in HIV pharmacotherapy are an excellent resource in detecting and minimizing the effect of antiretroviral drug-related errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor B Ojeh
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Nasir Naima
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Isaac O Abah
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Kakjing D Falang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Jos . Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Ogwuche Lucy
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Ibrahim London
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Christiana Dady
- APIN Centre/Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital. Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Patricia Agaba
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Jos . Jos ( Nigeria ).
| | - Oche Agbaji
- Nephrology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Jos . Jos ( Nigeria ).
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15
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True durability: HIV virologic suppression in an urban clinic and implications for timing of intensive adherence efforts and viral load monitoring. AIDS Behav 2015; 19:594-600. [PMID: 25369887 PMCID: PMC4392112 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-014-0917-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although the majority of HIV-infected patients who begin potent antiretroviral therapy should expect long-term virologic suppression, the realities in practice are less certain. Durability of viral suppression was examined to define the best timing of targeted adherence strategies and intensive viral load monitoring in an urban clinic population with multiple challenges to ART adherence. We examined the risk of viral rebound for patients who achieved two consecutive viral loads lower than the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) within 390 days. For 791 patients with two viral loads below the LLOQ, viral rebound >LLOQ from the first viral load was 36.9 % (95 % CI 32.2-41.6) in the first year, 26.9 % (95 % CI 21.7-32.1) in the year following one year of viral suppression, and 24.6 % (95 % CI 18.4-30.9) in the year following 2 years of viral suppression. However, for patients with CD4 ≥300 cells/µl who had 3-6 years of virologic suppression, the risk of viral rebound was very low. At the population level, the risk of viral rebound in a complex urban clinic population is surprisingly high even out to 3 years. Intensified monitoring and adherence efforts should target this high risk period. Thereafter, confidence in truly durable virologic suppression is improved.
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