What do we know about the situation of women living with HIV in Europe?

HIV-positive women have higher prevalence of comorbidities and anticholinergic burden: assessment of the HIV-positive population from Menorca (Balearic Islands)

Currently, the management of comorbidities and polypharmacy in HIV-infected patients requires a coordinated action, with special focus on gender differences. Observational, cross-sectional study was conducted to study the HIV population from Menorca (Illes Balears). Adult HIV-positive individuals on antiretroviral treatment attending the pharmacy service from Hospital Mateu Orfila (Menorca) were included. In a single visit, demographical and clinical characteristics, comorbidities and cotreatments were collected. Anticholinergic burden (Drug Burden Index, DBI), drug-to-drug interactions (BOT PLUS database) and symptoms associated with HIV treatment (HIV-SI index) were assessed. A total of 223 patients were included, 68.2% men, with a median age of 53.00 (44.50-58.00) years, median BMI of 24.07, 47.73% smokers and 9.90% drug consumers. Women had more advanced stages of the disease and significantly more symptoms (cough and anxiety) versus men (p = .033 and p = .048, respectively). Moreover higher exposures to anticholinergic drugs (DBI 0.51 vs. 0.27) were reported, together with more frequency of drug-to-drug interactions (57.7% vs. 37.5%; p = .005) that increased with age. Red interactions were more frequently reported in PI (2.69%), NNRTIs (1.92%) and booster drugs (1.92%). These results support the need to implement specific measures for the management of HIV-infected women and tools to assess polypharmacy and risk of drug-to-drug interactions.

What is the relationship between increased access to HAART, relationship status and fertility decisions amongst HIV-positive women? A literature review and meta-analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between fertility decisions, to have already had a child or to desire to have one in the future, and the prognostic factors; access to antiretrovirals, the time since these became widely available (year of the study); and relationship status.

BACKGROUND

There have been significant advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus with the advent of antiretroviral therapy which has been used to successfully reduce the rate of mother to child transmission; leading researchers to hypothesise that human immunodeficiency virus-positive women may desire to have children more so now than in the past. However, this topic is often not discussed in healthcare consultations.

DESIGN & METHODS

A systematic search was conducted on Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Medline, using the key terms 'fertility decisions' and 'human immunodeficiency virus positive'. A meta-analysis of proportions and a meta-regression were conducted using a random-effects model and a logit transformation to normalise the data. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q, I² and R² values, and p-values were produced for each regressed variable.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant relationship between a desire to have children in the future and any of the prognostic variables. However, there were statistically significant relationships between already having had at least one child; being on antiretroviral therapy; wanting a child in the future; and being in a cohabiting partnership or marriage.

CONCLUSION

There are no reliable prognostic variables which can be used to predict fertility intentions in human immunodeficiency virus-positive women. There is, however, a significant proportion of women who wish to have children or who have already had children and are in need of reproductive counselling from their healthcare providers.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

A greater knowledge of factors which may influence reproductive decisions amongst human immunodeficiency virus-positive position will allow healthcare professionals to individualise the care they provide.

Heterosexual practices of women and men living with HIV attending hospital outpatient services (ANRS-VESPA2 survey): a French comparative study with the general population (CSF survey)

HAART has improved the well-being of many people living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed at (i) comparing heterosexual practices between PLWH and the general population by gender, and (ii) identifying factors associated with sexual practices and at-risk behaviors in the two populations. Self-reported data were collected among PLWH attending hospitals (VESPA2 survey; n = 3022) and the general population (CSF survey; n = 10,280). Significant differences between the two samples were corrected for by implementing propensity score matching on both socio-demographic characteristics and sexual behavior in terms of number of partners. Men not reporting heterosexual intercourse were excluded. After matching, 61% of women (out of 707) and 68% of men (out of 709) were sexually active in both populations. PLWH practiced oral sex less than the general population and used condoms more consistently over the previous 12-month period, irrespective of having multiple sexual partners or not. For women living with HIV: those with several sexual partners and those consuming drugs over the previous 12 months were more likely to practice oral sex; those living in a couple for at least 6 years and migrants were less likely to practice anal intercourse. For men living with HIV: those reporting bisexual relationships and those with multiple sexual partners over the previous 12 months were more likely to practice anal heterosexual intercourse; migrants reported less oral sex, irrespective of HIV status. Error term correlations showed that anal intercourse was not linked to condom use for women or men from either population. Our results show that PLWH had a lower rate of heterosexual practices compared with the general population, and used condoms more often, irrespective of the number of sexual partners and strong cultural background (e.g., for Sub-Saharan African women). Further preventive information needs to be disseminated on the risk of infection transmission through heterosexual anal intercourse.

ART management in children perinatally infected with HIV from mothers who experience behavioural changes in Romania

INTRODUCTION

During the recent years the rate of HIV perinatally exposed children in Romania has increased as a consequence of the expanding number of HIV-infected women. These women belong to Romania's long-terms survivors, aged between 20 and 24 years and to the group of new HIV infection cases (20-24 years), acquired through unsafe sexual contact and use of new psychoactive substance (IV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We focused on 396 HIV perinatally exposed children born between 2008 and 2013, under surveillance in National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Bals," Bucharest. Of them, 43 acquired HIV through materno-foetal transmission. Our aim was to observe the characteristics in their evolution under antiretroviral treatment and to emphasize the causes of treatment failure. Children with perinatally acquired HIV infection were followed in a retrospective case series. We assessed maternal characteristics, HIV vertical transmission prophylaxis, timing of diagnosis, immunological and virologic status and features of the evolution under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

RESULTS

The rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission was 10.8% versus the national rate registered in 2013, namely <5%. 16% of mothers belonged to the Romanian 1990s cohort and 84% were recently infected with HIV, through unprotected sexual contact (70%) or use of new psychoactive substances (14%). 51% of mothers were diagnosed postnatally as a consequence of their reluctance to access specific health services and in 57% CD4 value was <350 cell/mm. 41% of the monitored children were diagnosed with HIV infection at birth. Their median entry CD4 value was 23% and 49% had a CD4 >25%; median entry viral load was 7 log. 16 patients (37%) had undetectable viral load after six months of treatment. In 87.5% of them the virologic suppression was achieved and maintained with one single regimen (2 NRTIs+1 NNRTI or 2 NRTIs+1 PI/r). 15 children (35%) did not achieve suppression of viral load. 19 children (44%) faced special issues related to adherence to antiretroviral treatment, due to mothers' poor adherence to a basic set of cares destined for their children.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevention programmes in Romania must be designed on the basis of the new economic context and emerging psychoactive substance use. Hence, women who use drugs should benefit from a wider access to medical and social services.

HIV-infected women in Europe: gender-specific needs and challenges

In collaboration with the Strong, HIV positive, Empowered Women (SHE) programme, an industry-funded initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of HIV-positive women, Antiviral Therapy has taken the excellent step to dedicate a Supplement Issue addressing the needs and challenges related to the care of women living in Europe. Included articles present the multiple facets of gender-specific issues and research gaps, ranging from HIV testing strategies to antiretroviral combination therapy, including long-term challenges associated with chronic HIV infection.