A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Suicide Among Persons Living with HIV (1996-2020)

Completed suicide risk factors among people living with HIV in Hunan Province identified through a psychological autopsy case-control study

Accumulating evidence has shown an increased risk of suicide among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). However, few studies have explored the risk factors associated with completed suicide among PLWHA. This study aimed to identify the characteristics and causes of completed suicide among PLWHA to guide future targeted suicide prevention and intervention programs. A 1:1 matched case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted among PLWHA in Hunan Province. We recruited 63 PLWHA who died by suicide from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019, and 63 living controls matched for age, gender, and employment. Two informants for each participant were interviewed to collect data on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, HIV-related stress, hopelessness, and social support. The median survival time from HIV diagnosis to completed suicide was 3.9 months (IQR: 0.57-14.13). Most completed suicides occurred within six months of HIV diagnosis (71.4%), with poisoning (34.9%) and hanging (22.2%) as the primary methods. After controlling for confounding factors, we identified four risk factors of completed suicide: not receiving antiretroviral treatment (OR = 6.805; 95% CI: 1.227 to 37.738), receiving low-income subsidy (OR = 16.272; 95% CI: 3.245 to 81.598), HIV-related stress (OR = 1.332; 95% CI: 1.089 to 1.629), and hopelessness (OR = 2.910; 95% CI: 1.378 to 6.144). PLWHA are at a high risk of suicide within the first six months of HIV diagnosis, indicating an urgent need for immediate suicide screening and timely intervention. Suicide risk is affected by multiple factors, including sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors, indicating the need for a multifactorial approach to suicide prevention, which may involve early initiation of ART treatment and provision of economic and psychosocial support.

Association Between TyG Index, Liver Steatosis and Immunosenescence in People Living with HIV

Background

Metabolic disorders and immunosenescence increase the risk of complications in people living with HIV (PLWH), affecting mortality and quality of life. However, their relationship remains unclear.

Methods

Participants were grouped by median TyG index, and logistic regression identified baseline independent factors of a high TyG index at Week 24. The association of the TyG index for hepatic steatosis was determined using ROC curves. We also explored correlations between the TyG index and aging markers, including CD4/CD8 ratio and CD8+ T cells and evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Results

A total of 203 PLWH were included in the study. We observed that PLWH in high TyG group tended to be older (P<0.001), have greater body weight (P<0.001), higher ALT levels (P=0.021), and increased low-density lipoprotein levels (P=0.001). ROC analysis revealed that TyG index was closely associated with hepatic steatosis at Week 52 (AUC=0.743) and Week 104 (AUC=0.728). Moreover, a higher TyG index was positively correlated with CD8+ T cell counts, while patients in the high TyG group had lower CD4/CD8 ratios at Week 52 and Week 104. Poorer mental health was observed in patients with CD8+ T cell counts ≥1000 and a high TyG index. Multivariate analysis further identified baseline older age (OR=1.108, P=0.002), elevated cholesterol (OR=3.407, P<0.001), and low HDL (OR=0.003, P<0.001) as factors associated with a high TyG index at Week 24.

Conclusion

The TyG index is closely linked to metabolic disorders and immunosenescence in PLWH. It offers a basis for personalized treatment strategies, improving physical and mental health and reducing complication risks.

Factors associated with suicidal ideation among people with HIV engaged in care

BACKGROUND

People with HIV (PWH) are at elevated risk for suicidal ideation (SI), yet few studies have examined how substance use, clinical and sociodemographic factors are associated with SI among PWH.

METHOD

We used substance use (Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medication, and Other Substance Use [TAPS]) and depression (PHQ-9) data from computerized screening of adult PWH in primary care clinics in Northern California, combined with health record data on psychiatric diagnoses, HIV diagnosis, treatment, and control (HIV RNA, CD4), insurance, and neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) to examine factors associated with SI (PHQ-9 item 9 score > 0). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for SI were obtained from logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Among 2829 PWH screened (92 % male; 56 % white; mean (SD) age of 54 (13) years; 220 (8 %) reported SI. Compared with no problematic use, SI was higher among those reporting one (aOR = 1.65, 95 % CI = 1.17, 2.33), two (aOR = 2.23, 95 % CI = 1.42, 3.49), or ≥ 3 substances (aOR = 4.49, 95 % CI = 2.41, 8.39). SI risk was higher for those with stimulant use (aOR = 3.55, 95 % CI = 2.25, 5.59), depression (aOR = 4.18, 95 % CI = 3.04, 5.74), and anxiety diagnoses (aOR = 1.67, 95 % CI = 1.19, 2.34), or Medicaid (aOR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.24, 3.60) compared with commercial/other insurance. SI was not associated with HIV-related measures or NDI.

LIMITATIONS

SI was assessed with a single PHQ-9 item. Simultaneous SI and exposure data collection restricts the ability to establish substance use as a risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV care providers should consider multiple substance use, stimulant use, depression or anxiety, and public insurance as risk factors for SI and provide interventions when needed.

Adapting the Client Priority Rating Scale to better fit the sexual health counselling setting: a quality improvement study

BACKGROUND

When demand for counselling in community-based clinics exceeds capacity, waiting lists are typically formed. Determining allocation priority solely on wait time can overlook client risk factors that can elevate priority. We undertook to rigorously adapt the only existing validated counselling triage tool, to better fit the sexual health setting.

METHODS

Sexual health counsellors were surveyed about aspects of client presentations that flagged increased priority. The revised Client Priority Rating Scale (CPRS-R) was created through systematic analysis and decision making, informed by survey results and literature review. Four expert sexual health counsellors independently rated the priority of 14 hypothetical clinical vignettes using the CPRS and CPRS-R.

RESULTS

Criterion (concurrent), content and face validity are evidenced in the revised scale. Average interrater agreement was higher on the CPRS-R (28%) than the CPRS (11%); however, this difference was marginal (P =0.06). According to Gwet's Agreement Coefficient (AC) and Krippendorff's Alpha, both the CPRS and the CPRS-R demonstrate comparable interrater reliability, substantial and moderate, respectively. Kendall's W indicates the CPRS yielded higher reliability. However, the difference is not substantial.

CONCLUSIONS

The CPRS-R is a triage tool designed for the sexual health counselling setting. This tool has demonstrated criterion, content and face validity, as well as moderate to substantial inter-rater reliability. It can be used in sexual health settings to inform assessments about client priority, along with clinical judgement and peer consultation.

Suicide Ideation and Attempt Among People With HIV: A Statewide Population-level Cohort Analysis Between 2005 and 2020

BACKGROUND

Risk factors for suicidality among people with HIV (PWH) may evolve over their disease course, particularly as they develop comorbidities such as mental health disorders over time.

SETTING

This study compared the leading risk factors of suicide ideation/attempt among PWH in South Carolina across different combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) eras.

METHODS

A statewide cohort of PWH who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2016, with a follow-up record until 2020, was involved in the study. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association of suicide ideation/attempt and predictors, including demographics, HIV-related characteristics, and mental health conditions.

RESULTS

Among 8567 PWH, the incidence of suicide ideation/attempt increased from 537.7 per 100,000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 460.2 to 615.1] in the early cART cohort (2005-2008) to 782.5 (95% CI: 697.6 to 867.4) in the late cART cohort (2009-2016). Leading risk factors of suicide ideation/attempt changed across the cART cohort. In the early cART cohort, PWH with suicide ideation/attempt were more likely to be White and diagnosed with bipolar disorder ( P' s < 0.05). In the late cART cohort, suicide ideation/attempt was positively associated with transmission through injection drug use, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorder ( P' s < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health conditions have emerged as more prominent risk factors for suicide ideation/attempt in the late cART cohort. Enhanced access to psychiatric care could facilitate the early identification of mental health conditions, enabling timely counseling or psychosocial interventions that may mitigate mental health issues and, consequently, reduce the likelihood of suicide ideation/attempts among PWH.

Risk factors for suicide among veterans living with and without HIV: a nested case-control study

The rate of suicide among people with HIV (PWH) remains elevated compared to the general population. The aim of the study was to examine the association between a broad range of risk factors, HIV-specific risk factors, and suicide. We conducted a nested case-control study using data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) between 2006 and 2015. The risk of suicide was estimated using conditional logistic regression and models were stratified by HIV status. Most risk factors associated with suicide were similar between PWH and people without HIV; these included affective disorders, use of benzodiazepines, and mental health treatment. Among PWH, HIV-specific risk factors were not associated with suicide. A multiplicative interaction was observed between a diagnosis of HIV and a previous suicide attempt. Among PWH, a high prevalence of psychiatric, substance use disorders and multimorbidity contribute to the risk of suicide.

Exploring core mental health symptoms among persons living with HIV: A network analysis

CONTEXT

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) commonly experience mental health symptoms. However, little is known about the core mental health symptoms and their relationships.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of various mental health symptoms and to explore their relationships in symptom networks among PLWH.

METHODS

From April to July 2022, we recruited 518 participants through convenience sampling in Beijing, China, for this cross-sectional study. Forty mental health symptoms, including six dimensions (somatization symptoms, negative affect, cognitive function, interpersonal communication, cognitive processes, and social adaptation), were assessed through paper-based or online questionnaires. Network analysis was performed in Python 3.6.0 to explore the core mental health symptoms and describe the relationships among symptoms and clusters.

RESULTS

Of the 40 mental health symptoms, the most common symptoms were fatigue (71.2%), trouble remembering things (65.6%), and uncertainty about the future (64.0%). In the single symptom network, sadness was the most central symptom across the three centrality indices (r_S = 0.59, r_C = 0.61, r_B = 0.06), followed by feeling discouraged about the future (r_S = 0.51, r_C = 0.57, r_B = 0.04) and feelings of worthlessness (r_S = 0.54, r_C = 0.53, r_B = 0.05). In the symptom cluster network, negative affect was the most central symptom cluster across the three centrality indices (r_S = 1, r_C = 1, r_B = 0.43).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a new perspective on the role of each mental health symptom among PLWH. To alleviate the mental health symptoms of PLWH to the greatest extent possible and comprehensively improve their mental health, we suggest that psychological professionals pay more attention to pessimistic mood and cognitive processes in PLWH. Interventions that apply positive psychology skills and cognitive behavioral therapy may be necessary components for the mental health care of PLWH.