Impact of Early Antiretroviral Treatment Initiation on Performance of Cross-Sectional Incidence Assays

Background: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. Results: Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. Conclusions: It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.

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Combined Antiretroviral Treatment Initiation During Hospitalization: Outcomes in South African Adults

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/qai.0b013e3181963cd4 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 105-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ingrid Eshun-Wilson ◽

Helen Van der Plas ◽

Hans W Prozesky ◽

Michele D Zeier ◽

Jean Nachega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Treatment Initiation

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Occupational Safety and Hygiene of Dentists from Urban and Rural Areas in Terms of Sharp Injuries: Wound Structure, Causes of Injuries and Barriers to Reporting—Cross-Sectional Study, Poland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15081655 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. 1655 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Garus-Pakowska ◽

Mariusz Górajski ◽

Ewelina Gaszyńska

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

The Village ◽

The City

(1) Background: Frequent contact of the dentist with potentially infectious material (PIM) is undeniable. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and type of injuries, as well as to identify barriers to reporting and barriers to the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among dentists from urban and rural areas. (2) Methods: We surveyed 192 dentists using an anonymous questionnaire. (3) Results: During the 12 months preceding the survey, 63% of dentists from the village and 58.8% of dentists from the city suffered at least one superficial cut, and deep cuts 15.1% and 17.6% respectively. Contact with PIM through spitting on the conjunctiva was 58.9% and 52.1% (village vs. city). Needle stick injuries were 50.4% and fingers were affected in 48.8% cases. The causes of injuries were: inattention 54.7%, rush 27%, unpredictable behavior of the patient 19%, recapping 18.2%. Work in the countryside was associated with a 1.95-times greater chance of not reporting injuries. The distance from a hospital with antiretroviral treatment may be a barrier to the implementation of PEP. (4) Conclusion: The circumstances of the injuries and the reasons for not applying for antiretroviral treatment point to the areas of necessary dentist education in this topic.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Community and hospital shared pharmaceutical care model. Satisfaction and acceptability of patients with HIV infection on antiretroviral treatment

Revista Española de Quimioterapia ◽

10.37201/req/055.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

María Ema Molas ◽

Hernando Knobel ◽

Olivia Ferrández ◽

Marta de Antonio Cuscó ◽

Nuria Carballo Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Pharmacy ◽

Pharmaceutical Care ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Plasma Viraemia ◽

Degree Of Satisfaction ◽

Cd4 Lymphocyte

Background. The health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge in the dispensing of outpatient hospital medication (OHM). Models of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) based on community pharmacy support (ARTCP) have proven to be successful. The aim was to evaluate the degree of satisfaction, acceptability and limitations of the implementation of ARTCP, in the context of a pandemic, in our environment. Methods. Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in a Barcelona hospital, during the months of July-November 2020. A telephone survey was carried out via a questionnaire on the quality dimensions of the model (degree of satisfaction, acceptability) and associated inconveniences. Data collected: demographics, antiretroviral treatment (ART), concomitant medication, drug interactions (DDIs), CD4 lymphocyte count and plasma viraemia. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. Results. A total of 533 (78.0%) HIV patients receiving ART were included. 71.9% (383/533) of these patients were very satisfied and 76.2% preferred attending the community pharmacy rather than the hospital. The mean satisfaction rating was 9.3 (DS: 1.4). The benefits reported were: 1) proximity to home (406: 76.1%); 2) lower risk of contagion of COVID-19 (318: 59.7%); 3) shorter waiting time (201: 37.1%); 4) time flexibility (104: 19.5%); 5) reduction of financial expenses (35: 6.57%). A total of 11 (2%) patients reported no benefit. Only 22.9% reported disadvantages associated with ARTCP: 1) lack of privacy (65: 12.2%); 2) lack of coordinationorganization (57: 10.7%). Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the provision of pharmaceutical care for HIV patients. The ARTPC model has proved efficient, with patients reporting a high degree of satisfaction.

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Diabetes and Hypertension among Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment Since 1998 in Senegal: Prevalence and Associated Factors

ISRN AIDS ◽

10.5402/2012/621565 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Assane Diouf ◽

Amandine Cournil ◽

Khadidiatou Ba-Fall ◽

Ndèye Fatou Ngom-Guèye ◽

Sabrina Eymard-Duvernay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Older Age ◽

World Health ◽

Resource Constrained ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Cross Sectional

Cardiovascular risk factors in people on antiretroviral treatment (ART) are poorly documented in resource-constrained settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 to assess prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in a sample of 242 HIV-infected patients who had initiated ART between 1998 and 2002 in Dakar, Senegal (ANRS 1215 observational cohort). World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were applied to diagnose diabetes and hypertension. Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with diabetes and hypertension. Patients had a median age of 46 years and had received ART for a median duration of about 9 years. 14.5% had diabetes and 28.1% had hypertension. Long duration of ART (≥119 months), older age, higher body mass index (BMI), and higher levels of total cholesterol were associated with higher risks of diabetes. Older age, higher BMI at ART initiation, and higher levels of triglycerides were associated with higher risk of hypertension. This study shows that diabetes and hypertension were frequent in these Senegalese HIV patients on ART. It confirms the association between duration of ART and diabetes and highlights the need to implement programs for prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in HIV patients from resource-constrained settings.

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Persistent disparities in antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and virological suppression across Europe, 2004 to 2015

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.21.1700382 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (21) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kamilla Laut ◽

Leah Shepherd ◽

Roxana Radoi ◽

Igor Karpov ◽

Milosz Parczewski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Practice ◽

Western Europe ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Virological Suppression ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eurosida Study ◽

Over Time ◽

Country Specific

Background: Direct comparisons between countries in core HIV care parameters are often hampered by differences in data collection. Aim: Within the EuroSIDA study, we compared levels of antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and virological suppression (HIV RNA < 500 copies/mL) across Europe and explored temporal trends. Methods: In three cross-sectional analyses in 2004–05, 2009–10 and 2014–15, we assessed country-specific percentages of ART coverage and virological suppression among those on ART. Temporal changes were analysed using logistic regression. Results: Overall, the percentage of people on ART increased from 2004–05 (67.8%) to 2014–15 (78.2%), as did the percentage among those on ART who were virologically suppressed (75.2% in 2004–05, 87.7% in 2014–15). However, the rate of improvement over time varied significantly between regions (p < 0.01). In 2014–15, six of 34 countries had both ART coverage and virological suppression of above 90% among those on ART. The pattern varied substantially across clinics within countries, with ART coverage ranging from 61.9% to 97.0% and virological suppression from 32.2% to 100%. Compared with Western Europe (as defined in this study), patients in other regions were less likely to be virologically suppressed in 2014–15, with the lowest odds of suppression (adjusted odds ratio = 0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13–0.21) in Eastern Europe. Conclusions: Despite overall improvements over a decade, we found persistent disparities in country-specific estimates of ART coverage and virological suppression. Underlying reasons for this variation warrant further analysis to identify a best practice and benchmark HIV care across EuroSIDA.

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Impact of a decade of successful antiretroviral therapy initiated at HIV-1 seroconversion on blood and rectal reservoirs

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.09115 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Eva Malatinkova ◽

Ward De Spiegelaere ◽

Pawel Bonczkowski ◽

Maja Kiselinova ◽

Karen Vervisch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Treatment Initiation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Functional Cure ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Low Levels ◽

Rectal Biopsies ◽

Hiv 1

Persistent reservoirs remain the major obstacles to achieve an HIV-1 cure. Prolonged early antiretroviral therapy (ART) may reduce the extent of reservoirs and allow for virological control after ART discontinuation. We compared HIV-1 reservoirs in a cross-sectional study using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques in blood and tissue of early-treated seroconverters, late-treated patients, ART-naïve seroconverters, and long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) who have spontaneous virological control without treatment. A decade of early ART reduced the total and integrated HIV-1 DNA levels compared with later treatment initiation, but not reaching the low levels found in LTNPs. Total HIV-1 DNA in rectal biopsies did not differ between cohorts. Importantly, lower viral transcription (HIV-1 unspliced RNA) and enhanced immune preservation (CD4/CD8), reminiscent of LTNPs, were found in early compared to late-treated patients. This suggests that early treatment is associated with some immunovirological features of LTNPs that may improve the outcome of future interventions aimed at a functional cure.

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Fertility desire and associated factors among clients on highly active antiretroviral treatment at finoteselam hospital Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-015-0063-2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fassika Abbawa ◽

Worku Awoke ◽

Yayehirad Alemu

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Northwest Ethiopia ◽

Fertility Desire ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Highly Active ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment

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Muscle Strength, Size, and Composition Following 12 Months of Gender-affirming Treatment in Transgender Individuals

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/clinem/dgz247 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 105 (3) ◽

pp. e805-e813 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Anna Wiik ◽

Tommy R Lundberg ◽

Eric Rullman ◽

Daniel P Andersson ◽

Mats Holmberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Function ◽

Treatment Initiation ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Muscle Volume ◽

Muscle Size ◽

Thigh Muscle ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

One Year

Abstract Context As many sports are divided in male/female categories, governing bodies have formed regulations on the eligibility for transgender individuals to compete in these categories. Yet, the magnitude of change in muscle mass and strength with gender-affirming treatment remains insufficiently explored. Objective This study explored the effects of gender-affirming treatment on muscle function, size, and composition during 12 months of therapy. Design, settings, participants In this single-center observational cohort study, untrained transgender women (TW, n = 11) and transgender men (TM, n = 12), approved to start gender-affirming medical interventions, underwent assessments at baseline, 4 weeks after gonadal suppression of endogenous hormones but before hormone replacement, and 4 and 12 months after treatment initiation. Main outcome measures Knee extensor and flexor strength were assessed at all examination time points, and muscle size and radiological density (using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography) at baseline and 12 months after treatment initiation. Results Thigh muscle volume increased (15%) in TM, which was paralleled by increased quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) (15%) and radiological density (6%). In TW, the corresponding parameters decreased by –5% (muscle volume) and –4% (CSA), while density remained unaltered. The TM increased strength over the assessment period, while the TW generally maintained their strength levels. Conclusions One year of gender-affirming treatment resulted in robust increases in muscle mass and strength in TM, but modest changes in TW. These findings add new knowledge on the magnitude of changes in muscle function, size, and composition with cross-hormone therapy, which could be relevant when evaluating the transgender eligibility rules for athletic competitions.

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