scholarly journals A Cascade of Interventions to Promote Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in African Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jopling ◽  
Primrose Nyamayaro ◽  
Lena S Andersen ◽  
Ashraf Kagee ◽  
Jessica E Haberer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Treatment Cascade ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Purpose of Review We reviewed interventions to improve uptake and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in African countries in the Treat All era. Recent Findings ART initiation can be improved by facilitated rapid receipt of first prescription, including community-based linkage and point-of-care strategies, integration of HIV care into antenatal care and peer support for adolescents. For people living with HIV (PLHIV) on ART, scheduled SMS reminders, ongoing intensive counselling for those with viral non-suppression and economic incentives for the most deprived show promise. Adherence clubs should be promoted, being no less effective than facility-based care for stable patients. Tracing those lost to follow-up should be targeted to those who can be seen face-to-face by a peer worker. Summary Investment is needed to promote linkage to initiating ART and for differentiated approaches to counselling for youth and for those with identified suboptimal adherence. More evidence from within Africa is needed on cost-effective strategies to identify and support PLHIV at an increased risk of non-adherence across the treatment cascade.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis preventive treatment opportunities at antiretroviral therapy initiation and follow-up visits

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-69
Author(s):  
T. Agizew ◽  
D. Surie ◽  
J.E. Oeltmann ◽  
M. Letebele ◽  
S. Pals ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Control Effort ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
A Prospective Study

Setting: Twenty-two clinics providing HIV care and treatment in Botswana where tuberculosis (TB) and HIV comorbidity is as high as 49%.Objectives: To assess eligibility of TB preventive treatment (TPT) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and at four follow-up visits (FUVs), and to describe the TB prevalence and associated factors at baseline and yield of TB diagnoses at each FUV.Design: A prospective study of routinely collected data on people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled into care for the Xpert® MTB/RIF Package Rollout Evaluation Study between 2012 and 2015.Results: Of 6041 PLHIV initiating ART, eligibility for TPT was 69% (4177/6041) at baseline and 93% (5408/5815); 95% (5234/5514); 96% (4869/5079); and 97% (3925/4055) at FUV1, FUV2, FUV3, and FUV4, respectively. TB prevalence at baseline was 11% and 2%, 3%, 3% and 6% at each subsequent FUV. At baseline, independent risk factors for prevalent TB were CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (aOR = 1.4, P = 0.030); anemia (aOR = 2.39, P < 0.001); cough (aOR = 11.21, P < 0.001); fever (aOR = 2.15, P = 0.001); and weight loss (aOR = 2.60, P = 0.002).Conclusion: Eligibility for TPT initiation is higher at visits post-ART initiation, while most cases of active TB were identified at ART initiation. Missed opportunities for TB further compromises TB control effort among PLHIV in Botswana.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of HIV support groups on antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral suppression in the African cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prudence Mbah ◽  
Michael Iroezindu ◽  
Allahna L. Esber ◽  
Nicole Dear ◽  
Domonique Reed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Viral Suppression ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Art Adherence ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Support groups for people living with HIV (PLWH) may improve HIV care adherence and outcomes. We assessed the impact of support group attendance on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression in four African countries. Methods The ongoing African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) enrolls participants at 12 clinics in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria. Self-reported attendance of any support group meetings, self-reported ART adherence, and HIV RNA are assessed every 6 months. Logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for support group attendance and other factors potentially associated with ART adherence and viral suppression. Results From January 2013 to December 1, 2019, 1959 ART-experienced PLWH were enrolled and 320 (16.3%) reported any support group attendance prior to enrollment. Complete ART adherence, with no missed doses in the last 30 days, was reported by 87.8% while 92.4% had viral suppression <1000copies/mL across all available visits. There was no association between support group attendance and ART adherence in unadjusted (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.03) or adjusted analyses (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98–1.02). Compared to PLWH who did not report support group attendance, those who did had similar odds of viral suppression in unadjusted (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.978–1.01) and adjusted analyses (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97–1.01). Conclusion Support group attendance was not associated with significantly improved ART adherence or viral suppression, although low support group uptake may have limited our ability to detect a statistically significant impact.

scholarly journals Protocol for a randomised controlled implementation trial of point-of-care viral load testing and task shifting: the Simplifying HIV TREAtment and Monitoring (STREAM) study

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e017507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jienchi Dorward ◽  
Nigel Garrett ◽  
Justice Quame-Amaglo ◽  
Natasha Samsunder ◽  
Hope Ngobese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Task Shifting ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Differentiated Care ◽  
Implementation Trial

IntroductionAchieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS 90-90-90 targets requires models of HIV care that expand antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage without overburdening health systems. Point-of-care (POC) viral load (VL) testing has the potential to efficiently monitor ART treatment, while enrolled nurses may be able to provide safe and cost-effective chronic care for stable patients with HIV. This study aims to demonstrate whether POC VL testing combined with task shifting to enrolled nurses is non-inferior and cost-effective compared with laboratory-based VL monitoring and standard HIV care.Methods and analysisThe STREAM (Simplifying HIV TREAtment and Monitoring) study is an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled implementation trial. HIV-positive adults, clinically stable at 6 months after ART initiation, will be recruited in a large urban clinic in South Africa. Approximately 396 participants will be randomised 1:1 to receive POC HIV VL monitoring and potential task shifting to enrolled nurses, versus laboratory VL monitoring and standard South African HIV care. Initial clinic follow-up will be 2-monthly in both arms, with VL testing at enrolment, 6 months and 12 months. At 6 months (1 year after ART initiation), stable participants in both arms will qualify for a differentiated care model involving decentralised ART pickup at community-based pharmacies. The primary outcome is retention in care and virological suppression at 12 months from enrolment. Secondary outcomes include time to appropriate entry into the decentralised ART delivery programme, costs per virologically suppressed patient and cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared with standard care. Findings will inform the scale up of VL testing and differentiated care in HIV-endemic resource-limited settings.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BFC296/16) and University of Washington Institutional Review Board (STUDY00001466). Results will be presented at international conferences and published in academic peer-reviewed journals.Trial registrationNCT03066128; Pre-results.

scholarly journals Managing Pharmacotherapy in People Living With HIV and Concomitant Malignancy

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 812-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline L. Olin ◽  
Olga Klibanov ◽  
Alexandre Chan ◽  
Linda M. Spooner
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Chronic Medical Condition ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Living With Hiv

Objective: To describe data with selected malignancies in people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV in individuals affected by both conditions and to summarize drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with clinical recommendations for point-of-care review of combination therapies. Data Sources: Literature searches were performed (2005 to December 2018) in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies of malignancies in PLWH in the modern era. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Article bibliographies and drug interaction databases were reviewed. Search terms included HIV, antiretroviral therapy, antineoplastic agents, malignancies, and drug interactions. Data Synthesis: In the pre–antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, malignancies in PLWH were AIDS-defining illnesses, and life expectancy was shorter. Nowadays, PLWH are living longer and developing malignancies, including lung, anal, and prostate cancers. Concurrently, the oncology landscape has evolved, with novel oral targeted agents and immunotherapies becoming routine elements of care. The increased need for and complexity with antineoplastics in PLWH has led to recommendations for multidisciplinary care of this unique population. Evaluation of DDIs requires review of metabolic pathways, absorption mechanisms, and various drug transporters associated with antineoplastics and ART. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: This review summarizes available data of non–AIDS-defining malignancies, principles of HIV care in the patient with malignancy, and guidance for assessing DDIs between antineoplastics and ART. Summary DDI tables provide point-of-care recommendations. Conclusions: The availability of ART has transformed AIDS into a chronic medical condition, and PLWH are experiencing age-related malignancies. Pharmacists play an important role in the management of this patient population.

scholarly journals 335. Antiretroviral Therapy Anchor-based Trends in Body Mass Index following Treatment Initiation among Military Personnel with HIV

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S177-S178 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kline ◽  
Colton Daniels ◽  
Xiaohe Xu ◽  
Thankam Sunil ◽  
Anuradha Ganesan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Baseline Bmi

Abstract Background Weight gain and obesity in people living with HIV have been associated with increased risk for non-AIDS-related comorbidities, and integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens may lead to comparatively more weight gain than other regimens. We evaluated body mass index (BMI) following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among participants in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS). Methods Of 961 NHS participants started on initial ART between 2006–2017, 496 men who had available baseline BMI data and were virally suppressed (< 200 c/mL) at 1 and 2 years of follow-up were included (Tables 1 and 2). ART was categorized by anchor class to include INSTIs, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs). Linear growth-curve modeling was used to predict BMI changes from ART initiation through 2 years of follow-up in participants stratified by baseline BMI (< 25 vs. ≥25 kg/m2) at ART start and anchor drug class. Demographic and HIV-related characteristics were analyzed as independent variables. Results Overall, the predicted BMI increased over 2 years regardless of baseline BMI (Table 3). There was a trend toward decreased BMI on ART for those with BMI ≥ 25 treated with a non-INSTI regimen (−0.63, P = 0.079). In participants with BMI < 25, all regimens were associated with overall gains in BMI except for those with high viral load (>100,000 c/mL) started on PI regimens (−1.61, P = 0.013). For those with BMI ≥ 25, only INSTI- and PI-based regimens were significantly associated with increased BMI (INSTI 0.54, P = 0.000; NNRTI 0.11, P = 0.174; PI 0.39, P = 0.006). Observed BMI increases for INSTI and PI regimens were also associated with increased time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation (INSTI 0.35, P = 0.003; PI 0.44, P = 0.037). African Americans with BMI ≥ 25 on INSTIs had the greatest predicted gains in BMI (1.84, P = 0.007). Conclusion In our cohort of young military members with HIV infection, those with baseline BMI < 25 experienced BMI gains across all ART classes. Among those with baseline BMI ≥ 25, African Americans on INSTI regimens had the greatest BMI gains. Further studies are needed to determine whether NNRTI regimens should be considered in certain individuals at risk for INSTI-associated weight gain. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals The Impact of Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy on Patients' Healthcare Expenditures: A Stepped-Wedge Randomized Trial in Eswatini

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina I. Steinert ◽  
Shaukat Khan ◽  
Emma Mafara ◽  
Cebele Wong ◽  
Khudzie Mlambo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Cd4 Count ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Stepped Wedge ◽  
Healthcare Expenditures ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Living With Hiv

AbstractImmediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people living with HIV has important health benefits but implications for the economic aspects of patients' lives are still largely unknown. This stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the causal impact of immediate ART initiation on patients’ healthcare expenditures in Eswatini. Fourteen healthcare facilities were randomly assigned to transition at one of seven time points from the standard of care (ART eligibility below a CD4 count threshold) to the immediate ART for all intervention (EAAA). 2261 patients living with HIV were interviewed over the study period to capture their past-year out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures. In mixed-effects regression models, we found a 49% decrease (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36, 0.72, p < 0.001) in past-year total healthcare expenditures in the EAAA group compared to the standard of care, and a 98% (RR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00, 0.02, p < 0.001) decrease in spending on private and traditional healthcare. Despite a higher frequency of HIV care visits for newly initiated ART patients, immediate ART initiation appears to have lowered patients’ healthcare expenditures because they sought less care from alternative healthcare providers. This study adds an important economic argument to the World Health Organization’s recommendation to abolish CD4-count-based eligibility thresholds for ART.

scholarly journals Various structural factors influenced early antiretroviral therapy initiation amongst HIV infected prisoners: a qualitative exploration in South Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terefe Gone Fuge ◽  
George Tsourtos ◽  
Emma R. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Peer Education ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Security Systems ◽  
Art Initiation

Abstract Background Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), non-AIDS related comorbidities and mortality, and prevents transmission. However, the prevalence of delayed ART initiation amongst prisoners in sub-Saharan African countries is high and the contributing factors to this are relatively unknown. Methods Qualitative interviewing was employed to understand the prisoners’ lived world with regard to initiating ART and associated barriers and facilitators in the South Ethiopian prison system. We interviewed seven (five male and two female) inmates living with HIV (ILWH) and eleven stakeholders who had a role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care provision for incarcerated people. A phenomenological approach was used to analyse the interview data in which meaning attributed to the lived experiences of the participants was abstracted. Results In this study, participants discussed both barriers to, and facilitators of, early ART initiation during incarceration. The barriers included a lack of access to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services, poor linkage to care due to insufficient health staff training, uncooperative prison security systems and loss of privacy regarding disclosure of HIV status. Insufficient health staff training and uncooperative prison security systems both contributed to a loss of patient privacy, ultimately resulting in treatment refusal. Although most participants described the importance of peer education and support for enhancing HIV testing and treatment programs amongst prisoners, there had been a decline in such interventions in the correctional facilities. Service providers suggested opportunities that a prison environment offers for identification and treatment of HIV infected individuals and implementation of peer education programs. Conclusions Our study identified crucial barriers to and facilitators of early ART initiation amongst prisoners, a key HIV priority population group. Interventions that address the barriers while strengthening the facilitators may enhance a greater utilisation of ART.

scholarly journals 763. Correlates of Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among Newly Diagnosed Older People with HIV in Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S427-S427
Author(s):  
Amy J Allen ◽  
Oleksandr Zeziulin ◽  
Julia Rozanova ◽  
Taylor Litz ◽  
Irina Zaviryukha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Older People ◽  
Opportunistic Infection ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Ukraine has a high burden of HIV, with only 52% of people living with HIV receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) despite test and treat policies and free medications. An underrecognized but significantly increasing proportion of older people with HIV (OPWH) contribute 15% of new HIV diagnoses and demonstrate increased mortality compared to the age-matched general population. To assess the impact of age on HIV treatment outcomes, we examined correlates of ART initiation among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Ukraine. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of 400 patients newly diagnosed with HIV between July 1, 2017- Dec 1, 2018 in Odessa, Ukraine. OPWH were defined as those ≥50 years old at the time of diagnosis, while ART initiation was defined as prescription and dispensing of medication. Outcomes were censored 6 months from diagnosis. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and ART outcomes were examined and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate correlates of ART initiation with adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Results Of the 400 included patients, 198 (49.5%) were &lt; 50 years old and 202 (50.5%) were ≥ 50 years old at the time of diagnosis. Patients ≥50 years old were more likely to have a lower CD4 count (median 148 (IQR 60-316) vs 295 (IQR 111-478), p=0.001). Correlates of ART initiation included age less than 50 and history of opportunistic infection within 12 months of diagnosis. After controlling for opportunistic infection history, OPWH were 51% less likely to receive ART than those &lt; 50 years old at the time of diagnosis (AOR 0.496, CI 0.301-0.816, p=0.006). Conclusion OPWH exhibit an ART gap associated with advanced disease at presentation compared to younger individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. This is the first clinical data examining OPWH in Ukraine. Interventions to improve linkage to care for OPWH are urgently needed in a population already at increased risk for HIV related mortality. The results of this study emphasize the need for further studies to examine patient and systemic causes of decreased ART initiation among Ukrainian OPWH. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals The Utilisation of Payment Models Across the HIV Continuum of Care: Systematic Review of Evidence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Rua ◽  
Daniela Brandão ◽  
Vanessa Nicolau ◽  
Ana Escoval
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Relative Magnitude ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Continuum Of Care ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Payment Models

AbstractThe increasing chronicity and multimorbidities associated with people living with HIV have posed important challenges to health systems across the world. In this context, payment models hold the potential to improve care across a spectrum of clinical conditions. This study aims to systematically review the evidence of HIV performance-based payments models. Literature searches were conducted in March 2020 using multiple databases and manual searches of relevant papers. Papers were limited to any study design that considers the real-world utilisation of performance-based payment models applied to the HIV domain. A total of 23 full-text papers were included. Due to the heterogeneity of study designs, the multiple types of interventions and its implementation across distinct areas of HIV care, direct comparisons between studies were deemed unsuitable. Most evidence focused on healthcare users (83%), seeking to directly affect patients' behaviour based on principles of behavioural economics. Despite the variability between interventions, the implementation of performance-based payment models led to either a neutral or positive impact throughout the HIV care continuum. Moreover, this improvement was likely to be cost-effective or, at least, did not compromise the healthcare system’s financial sustainability. However, more research is needed to assess the durability of incentives and its appropriate relative magnitude.

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