Evaluation of self-report adherence measures and their associations with detectable viral load among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in China

Past studies of barriers to HIV care have not comprehensively assessed psychiatric symptoms, and few have assessed barriers to care among people living with HIV (PLWH) who are lost to care (LTC). We examined psychiatric symptoms, barriers to HIV care, and immune functioning in PLWH who were retained in care (RIC; n = 21) or LTC (n = 21). Participants completed diagnostic interviews for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders, self-report measures of HIV risk behaviors and psychiatric symptoms, and a blood draw to assess viral load. Compared to RIC participants, LTC participants met criteria for a greater number of psychiatric disorders and reported greater depressive symptoms and more barriers to HIV care. There were no group differences in PTSD severity, risk behaviors, or viral load, suggesting that LTC individuals experience greater psychiatric problems and perceive more barriers to care than RIC participants, but are not less likely to have achieved viral suppression.

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Predictors of virological failure among people living with HIV receiving first line antiretroviral treatment in Myanmar: retrospective cohort analysis

AIDS Research and Therapy ◽

10.1186/s12981-021-00336-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anita Mesic ◽

Alexander Spina ◽

Htay Thet Mar ◽

Phone Thit ◽

Tom Decroo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Virological Failure ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

First Line ◽

Hiv Viral Load ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

History Of ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract Background Progress toward the global target for 95% virological suppression among those on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is still suboptimal. We describe the viral load (VL) cascade, the incidence of virological failure and associated risk factors among people living with HIV receiving first-line ART in an HIV cohort in Myanmar treated by the Médecins Sans Frontières in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sports Myanmar. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including adult patients with at least one HIV viral load test result and having received of at least 6 months’ standard first-line ART. The incidence rate of virological failure (HIV viral load ≥ 1000 copies/mL) was calculated. Multivariable Cox’s regression was performed to identify risk factors for virological failure. Results We included 25,260 patients with a median age of 33.1 years (interquartile range, IQR 28.0–39.1) and a median observation time of 5.4 years (IQR 3.7–7.9). Virological failure was documented in 3,579 (14.2%) participants, resulting in an overall incidence rate for failure of 2.5 per 100 person-years of follow-up. Among those who had a follow-up viral load result, 1,258 (57.1%) had confirmed virological failure, of which 836 (66.5%) were switched to second-line treatment. An increased hazard for failure was associated with age ≤ 19 years (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR 1.51; 95% confidence intervals, CI 1.20–1.89; p < 0.001), baseline tuberculosis (aHR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14–1.49; p < 0.001), a history of low-level viremia (aHR 1.60; 95% CI 1.42–1.81; p < 0.001), or a history of loss-to-follow-up (aHR 1.24; 95% CI 1.41–1.52; p = 0.041) and being on the same regimen (aHR 1.37; 95% CI 1.07–1.76; p < 0.001). Cumulative appointment delay was not significantly associated with failure after controlling for covariates. Conclusions VL monitoring is an important tool to improve programme outcomes, however limited coverage of VL testing and acting on test results hampers its full potential. In our cohort children and adolescents, PLHIV with history of loss-to-follow-up or those with low-viremia are at the highest risk of virological failure and might require more frequent virological monitoring than is currently recommended.

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Community Viral Load and CD4 Count Distribution Among People Living With HIV in a South African Township

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/qai.0b013e318293ae48 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 498-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Katharina Kranzer ◽

Stephen D. Lawn ◽

Leigh F. Johnson ◽

Linda-Gail Bekker ◽

Robin Wood

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

South African ◽

Cd4 Count ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Count Distribution ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

South African Township

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Symptom prevalence, burden and correlates among people living with HIV in Vietnam: a two-centre self-report study

AIDS Care ◽

10.1080/09540121.2021.1922577 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Duong Le Dai ◽

Thi Van Anh Pham ◽

Thi Thanh Huyen Bui ◽

The Ngoc Ha Than ◽

Van Thuc Pham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Self Report ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Symptom Prevalence ◽

Living With Hiv

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Substance use, Unlike Dolutegravir, is Associated with Mood Symptoms in People Living with HIV

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-021-03272-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa Van de Wijer ◽

Wouter van der Heijden ◽

Mike van Verseveld ◽

Mihai Netea ◽

Quirijn de Mast ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Term Treatment ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Self Report ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Antiretroviral Drug ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Neuropsychiatric Side Effects

AbstractContradictory data have been reported concerning neuropsychiatric side effects of the first-line antiretroviral drug dolutegravir, which may be partly due to lack of control groups or psychiatric assessment tools. Using validated self-report questionnaires, we compared mood and anxiety (DASS-42), impulsivity (BIS-11), and substance use (MATE-Q) between dolutegravir-treated and dolutegravir-naive people living with HIV (PLHIV). We analyzed 194, mostly male, PLHIV on long-term treatment of whom 82/194 (42.3%) used dolutegravir for a median (IQR) of 280 (258) days. Overall, 51/194 (26.3%) participants reported DASS-42 scores above the normal cut-off, 27/194 (13.5%) were classified as highly impulsive, and 58/194 (29.9%) regularly used recreational drugs. Regular substance use was positively associated with depression (p = 0.012) and stress scores (p = 0.045). We observed no differences between dolutegravir-treated and dolutegravir-naive PLHIV. Our data show that depressed and anxious moods and impulsivity are common in PLHIV and associate with substance use and not with dolutegravir use.

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EBV AND HHV-6 CIRCULATING SUBTYPES IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN BURKINA FASO, IMPACT ON CD4 T CELL COUNT AND HIV VIRAL LOAD

Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.4084/mjhid.2017.049 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 2017049 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lassina TRAORE ◽

Ouéogo NIKIEMA ◽

Abdoul Karim OUATTARA ◽

Tegwindé Rébéca COMPAORE ◽

Serge Théophile SOUBEIGA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Cd4 Count ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Study Population ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Cd4 T Cell Count

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) are responsible for severe diseases, particularly in immunocompromised persons. There are poor data on the infection with these opportunistic viruses in Burkina Faso.The purpose of this study is to characterize EBV and HHV-6 subtypes and to assess their impact on CD4 T cell count, HIV-1 viral load and antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV-1.The study population consisted of 238 HIV-positive patients with information on CD4 count, HIV-1 viral load and HAART. Venous blood samples collected on EDTA tubes were used for EBV and HHV-6 Real Time PCR subtyping.An infection rate of 6.7% (16/238) and 7.1% (17/238) were found respectively for EBV and HHV-6 in the present study. Among EBV infections, similar prevalences were noted for both subtypes (3.9% [9/238] for EBV-1 vs 4.6% [11/238] for EBV-2) with 2.1% (5/238) of co-infection. HHV-6A infection represented 6.3% (15/238) of the study population against 5.0% (12/238) for HHV-6B. . EBV-2 infection was significantly higher in patients with CD4 count ≥ 500 compared to those with CD4 count less than 500 cells (1.65% vs 8.56%, p = 0,011). The prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 infections were almost similar in HAART-naive and HAART-experienced patients.The present study provides information on the prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 subtypes in people living with HIV-1 in Burkina Faso. The study also suggests that HAART treatment has no effect on infection with these opportunistic viruses in people living with HIV-1.

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Trends in CD4 and viral load testing 2005 to 2018: multi‐cohort study of people living with HIV in Southern Africa

Journal of the International AIDS Society ◽

10.1002/jia2.25546 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Zaniewski ◽

Cam H Dao Ostinelli ◽

Frédérique Chammartin ◽

Nicola Maxwell ◽

Mary‐Ann Davies ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Viral Load ◽

Southern Africa ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Load Testing ◽

Viral Load Testing ◽

Living With Hiv

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Effects of HIV-Related Discrimination on Psychosocial Syndemics and Sexual Risk Behavior among People Living with HIV

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17061924 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 1924

Author(s):

Randolph C. H. Chan ◽

Don Operario ◽

Winnie W. S. Mak

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Condom Use ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Self Report ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Inconsistent Condom ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Inconsistent Condom Use

In the context of HIV-related stigma and discrimination, people living with HIV (PLHIV) might be vulnerable to a ‘syndemic’ of co-occurring psychosocial challenges that can affect sexual behavior. The present study examined how HIV-related discrimination contributes to co-occurring psychosocial syndemic problems and results in inconsistent condom use among PLHIV in Hong Kong. Two-hundred and ninety-one PLHIV were recruited to complete a self-report questionnaire. More than one-quarter of the sample experienced two or more psychosocial syndemic problems, and 74.1% of the participants who had sex with steady partners reported inconsistent condom use over the past three months. The results indicated that HIV-related discrimination was positively predictive of the number of psychosocial syndemic problems. HIV-related discrimination and psychosocial syndemics were associated with increased odds of inconsistent condom use with steady partners (AOR = 5.40 and AOR = 3.09 respectively). Findings from structural equation modeling showed that psychosocial syndemics mediated the effect of HIV-related discrimination on condom use consistency with steady partners. PLHIV in Hong Kong suffered from the syndemic effects of stigma, social isolation, and poor mental health, which rendered them vulnerable to condomless sex. In order to curb the rapidly increasing incidence of HIV, multi-level strategies should be adopted to concurrently address the structural inequities and psychosocial syndemics faced by PLHIV.

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Late Onset of Antiretroviral Therapy in Adults Living with HIV in an Urban Area in Brazil: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Journal of Tropical Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/5165313 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Priscila Ribeiro Guimarães Pacheco ◽

Ana Laura Sene Amâncio Zara ◽

Luiz Carlos Silva e Souza ◽

Marília Dalva Turchi

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Late Onset ◽

Baseline Viral Load ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Late Initiation ◽

Living With Hiv

Introduction. Highly active antiretroviral therapy has been available since 1996. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to improved therapeutic response and reduced HIV transmission. However, a significant number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) still start treatment late. Objective. This study aimed to analyze characteristics and factors associated with late initiation of ART among HIV-infected treatment-naïve patients. Methods. This cross-sectional study included PLHIV older than 17 years who initiated ART at two public health facilities from 2009 to 2012, in a city located in Midwestern Brazil. Pregnant women were excluded. Data were collected from medical records, antiviral dispensing forms, and the Logistics Control of Medications System (SICLOM) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Late initiation of ART was defined as CD4+ cell count < 200 cells/mm3 or presence of AIDS-defining illness. Uni- and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate associated factors for late ARV using SPSS®, version 21. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results. 1,141 individuals were included, with a median age of 41 years, and 69.1% were male. The prevalence of late initiation of ART was 55.8% (95%CI: 52.9-58.7). The more common opportunistic infections at ART initiation were pneumocystosis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, and histoplasmosis. Overall, 38.8% of patients had HIV viral load equal to or greater than 100,000 copies/mL. Late onset of ART was associated with higher mortality. After logistic regression, factors shown to be associated with late initiation of ARV were low education level, sexual orientation, high baseline viral load, place of residence outside metropolitan area, and concomitant infection with hepatitis B virus. Conclusion. These results revealed the need to increase early treatment of HIV infection, focusing especially on groups of people who are more socially vulnerable or have lower self-perceived risk.

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