Assessing relationships between health-related quality of life and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

Health-related quality of life and its association with sociodemographic, economic, health status and lifestyles among HIV-positive patients in northern Malaysia

Sociodemographic status and medical problems were widely reported as the major factors in people living with HIV (PLHIV) with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, lifestyles and cultural changes are rarely studied. A multicentred cross-sectional study was conducted among 137 virally suppressed PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in northern Malaysia by face-to-face interviews and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire. It was to explore their health and socioeconomic status, lifestyles, and associations with different HRQoL domains. The result of multiple linear regression showed that smoking was a predominant risk factor of lower physical (beta coefficient (β): -5.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): -9.97 to -1.66; p = 0.006), social (β: -8.76, 95% CI: -15.12 to -2.40; p = 0.007), and environmental domain scores (β: -10.25, 95% CI: -15.21 to -5.30; p < 0.001). Poor physical health also associated with unemployment (p < 0.001) and adverse drug reaction (p = 0.015). Ethnicity was a significant factor of psychological (p = 0.007) and environment domain score (p = 0.009). HRQoL of PLHIV is strongly associated with their lifestyles and societal class. Mandatory lifestyle screening, behavioural interventions and re-employment assistance should be implemented on all PLHIV.

Health-Related Quality of Life Is a Mediator of the Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Cardiac Event-Free Survival in Patients with Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important patient-reported outcome that is related to medication adherence, hospitalization and death. The nature of the relationships among medication adherence, HRQOL, and hospitalization and death is unknown. We sought to determine the relationships among medication adherence, HRQOL, and cardiac event-free survival in patients with heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 218 patients with heart failure. Patients' medication adherence was measured objectively using the Medication Event Monitoring System. HRQOL was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Patients were followed for up to 3.5 years to collect hospitalization and mortality data. Mediation analysis was used to determine the nature of the relationships among the variables. Patients with better medication adherence had better HRQOL (P = .014). Medication adherence and HRQOL were associated with cardiac event-free survival (both P < .05). Patients with medication nonadherence were 1.86 times more likely to experience a cardiac event than those with better medication adherence (P = .038). Medication adherence was not associated with cardiac event-free survival after entering HRQOL in the model (P = .118), indicating mediation by HRQOL of the relationship between medication adherence and cardiac event-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

HRQOL mediated the relationship between medication adherence and cardiac event-free survival. It is important to assess medication adherence and HRQOL regularly and develop interventions to improve medication adherence and HRQOL to decrease hospitalization and mortality in patients with heart failure.

Social Support Mitigates Negative Impact of Food Insecurity on Antiretroviral Adherence Among Postpartum Women in Western Kenya

Food insecurity (FI), low social support, and low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are associated with self-reported nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among postpartum women, but these relationships have not been evaluated using objective adherence indicators. Hair samples were therefore analyzed among 83 postpartum Kenyan women living with HIV on efavirenz and nevirapine ART drug regimens in an observational cohort (NCT02974972). FI (0-27), social support (0-40), and HRQoL (8-40) in the prior month were also assessed. In multivariable models, each point increase in FI and decrease in HRQoL were associated with a 45.1% (95% CI: -64.3%, -15.6%) and 10.5% decrease (95% CI: 1.0%, 22.1%) in hair ART drug concentrations respectively, when social support was held constant. A significant interaction between social support and FI (β = 0.02, p = 0.017) indicated that greater social support was predicted to mitigate the negative impacts of FI on ART adherence. Addressing these modifiable barriers could improve ART adherence during this critical period.

Health-related quality of life among HIV-infected patients initiating treatment in Brazil in the single-tablet regimen era

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept involving an individual's self-perception about how a disease or treatment impacts their daily life. In this study, we evaluated the HRQoL and factors associated with this outcome in 366 patients initiating combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.We measured HRQoL using the EuroQoL-5D 3 level (EQ-5D) and the HIV instrument of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) and identified factors associated with HRQoL using multilevel linear regression. Participants had been on cART treatment a median of 65.5 days at the time the instruments were completed. The median HRQoL of patients on the single-tablet regimen containing efavirenz/ tenofovir/ lamivudine and the multi-tablet regimen containing dolutegravir and tenofovir/ lamivudine were high, with no significant difference between groups. Factors consistently associated with lower HRQoL were being single (unmarried), having a lower educational level, recent cigarette smoking, recent signs and symptoms of anxiety or depression, comorbid disease and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. We observed high levels of HRQoL in cART-treated people and no differences between dolutegravir and efavirenz-based regimens. This study provides inputs to future economic analysis and identifies opportunities to increase the HRQoL of patients by targeting modifiable factors.

The relationship between cognitive change and physical health and behavioural outcomes in a Ugandan cohort of adults living with HIV - a longitudinal study

We investigated changes in cognitive function and physical health and behavioural outcomes (HIV disease progression, health-seeking behaviour, adherence to HIV medications and risky sexual behaviour) at baseline and 12 months later among 1126 Ugandan adults living with HIV. Overall, cognitive function improved from baseline to follow-up, except for gait speed, which was slower at follow-up compared to baseline. There were improvements in physical health and behavioural outcomes by follow-up, with greater improvements among individuals on ART compared to those not on ART. Change in gait speed over time significantly predicted risky sexual behaviours at follow-up. This is the first study to investigate the longitudinal relationships between cognitive function and health outcomes among Ugandan adults living with HIV and provide insights into the possible links between cognitive function and negative clinical and behavioural health outcomes in people living with HIV.

Relationship of medication adherence and quality of life among heart failure patients

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the relationship between medication adherence and quality of life in heart failure patients. We therefore aimed to examine the nature of relationship between medication adherence and quality of life.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study of chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction was performed at a tertiary-care, university hospital in Thailand. Quality of life and medication adherence were assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), respectively. Relationship of MLHFQ and MMAS-8 were examined using Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis for covariates adjustment.

RESULTS

Among 180 patients, 38.3%, 50.0% and 11.7% were found to have high, medium and poor adherence, respectively. For quality of life, the overall median score on the MLHFQ was relatively low. A positive relationship was identified between medication adherence and quality of life. After covariate adjustment, medication adherence was found to have the strongest relationship with quality of life, compared to other covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication adherence has a small and positive relationship with quality of life among heart failure patients.

Viral suppression among HIV-infected methadone-maintained patients: The role of ongoing injection drug use and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART)

INTRODUCTION

Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is associated with improved virologic outcomes, yet no studies have explored factors associated with viral suppression in HIV-infected patients on MMT. Given the critical role of sustained viral suppression in maximizing benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), we sought to assess factors associated with viral suppression in patients stabilized on MMT.

METHODS

A sample of 133 HIV-infected, methadone-maintained patients who reported HIV-risk behaviors were assessed using an audio-computer assisted self-interview (ACASI). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant correlates of viral suppression.

RESULTS

Among all participants, self-reported HIV risk behaviors were highly prevalent and over 80% had achieved viral suppression. Independent correlates of viral suppression were: having optimal adherence to ART (aOR = 4.883, p = .009), high CD4 count (aOR = 2.483, p = .045), and ongoing injection drug use (aOR = 0.081, p = .036). Furthermore, results revealed a significant interaction effect that involved optimal ART adherence and injection of drug use on viral suppression (aOR = 2.953, p = .029).

CONCLUSION

Overall, our findings highlight unaddressed HIV-related treatment challenges faced by certain group of methadone-maintained patients. These findings have significant implications for the HIV treatment as prevention efforts and, thus, indicate the need for comprehensive efforts to promote viral suppression in this risk population.

Prevalence of nonadherence and its associated factors affecting on HIV adults follow-up at antiretroviral therapy clinic in Batu Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a major public health problem and a development predicament that affects all sectors, drastically affecting the health, economic, and reducing social life expectancy, deepening poverty, and contributing to and exacerbating food shortages. Strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen is essential to obtain the desired benefit and to avoid the emergence of drug resistance and clinical failure; therefore, this study is aimed to assess the antiretroviral (ARV) adherence among the HIV patients and suggesting them by possible ways for improving the adherence.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Batu Hospital, Batu town. The sample size was found to be 160, and systemic random sampling was used to collect data by providing a pretested structured questionnaire. The qualitative data were analyzed to identify the significance of the relationship between the dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

A total of 160 patients was agreed to involve in our survey, 85.6% of patients were adherent by self-report. The main reason of nonadherence cited by the patients were; being away from home for some social reasons (33.4%), being too busy with other things (25.0%), simply forgot to take their ART (25.0%), developed toxicity or side effects (8.3%), having problems for fear of stigma and disclosure (8.3%), and (7.5%) of participants also shortage of ARV medications at hand because of some public holidays or weekends that coincide with date of appointments.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The self-report adherence rate was higher than that seen in developing countries. Programs and clinical efforts to improve medication taking in the study setups should strive to provide the regular follow-up for patients, increase patients' awareness of the side effects of ARVs and possible remedies, integrate medications better into patients' daily routines, improve patients' confidence, trust, and satisfaction with their caregivers, and teach patients to use memory aids.

The Role of Emotional Avoidance, the Patient-Provider Relationship, and Other Social Support in ART Adherence for HIV+ Individuals

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with positive health outcomes among HIV+ patients. However, non-adherence remains high. Though factors that account for non-adherence remain unclear, social support has been consistently associated with ART adherence. As such, identifying malleable factors that hinder patients' ability to form supportive relationships may have consequence for improving ART adherence. Emotional avoidance (EA) may be one such factor given that it has been linked to difficulties in social situations. The present study examined relations among EA, the patient-provider relationship, other sources of social support, and ART adherence within a sample of HIV+ ART-prescribed patients. High EA was related to poor adherence and patient-provider relationships. EA was indirectly related to poor adherence through poorer patient-provider interactions. The indirect relation of EA to ART adherence through other sources of social support was not significant. Implications for developing targeted behavioral interventions focused on improving ART adherence are discussed.

Factors affecting first month adherence due to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adults at Felege Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital, north-western Ethiopia; a prospective study

Background

Non-adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is one of the factors for treatment failure in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to identify factors for treatment failure among adult HIV patients based on the assessment of first month adherence in the study area.

Methods

The study was conducted using secondary data from antiretroviral unit at Felege Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital. A prospective study was undertaken on 792 randomly selected adult HIV positive patients who have started HAART. The variable of interest, adherence to HAART was categorized as non-adherence if a patient had taken less than 95% of the prescribed medication and this was measured using pill counts. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests of association, independent samples t-test and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Results

In first month therapy, 68.2% of the patients belong to adherence group to HAART. As age increases, a patient without cell phone was less likely to be adherent to HAART as compared to patients with cell phone (AOR = 0.661, 95% CI: (0.243, 0.964)). Compared to urban patients, rural patients were less likely to adhere to HAART (AOR = 0.995, 95% CI: (0.403, 0.999)). A patient who did not disclose his/her disease to families or communities had less probability to be adherent to HAART (AOR = 0.325, 95% CI: (0.01, 0.64)). Similarly, a patient who did not get social support (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI: (0,021, 0.473)) had less probability of adherence to HAART. The main reasons for patients to be non-adherent were forgetfulness, side effects, feeling sick and running out of medication.

Conclusion

This study indentified certain groups of patients who are at higher risk and who need counseling. Such groups should be targeted and tailored for improvement of adherence to HAART among HIV positive adults. The health care providers should advise the community to provide social support to HIV positive patients whenever their disease is disclosed. On the other hand, patients should disclose their disease to community to get integrated supports. HIV infected patients who are directed to start HAART should adhere the prescribed medication. For the adherence to be effective, patients who have cell phone should use them as reminder to take pills on time.

Efficacy of a Social Self-Value Empowerment Intervention to Improve Quality of Life of HIV Infected People Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We developed a comprehensive and culturally applicable empowerment intervention social self-value package with an aim to assess its efficacy in order to improve the quality of life (QoL) of HIV infected people receiving antiretroviral treatment. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either six weekly intervention sessions or standard care. Nonlinear mixed-effects models were performed to compare changes in empowerment scores over time. Between September and November 2014, 1447 individuals were screened, of whom 132 were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The mean scores of empowerment, social support and quality of life increased and stigma scores were reduced in the intervention group at 3- and 6-months. An intervention effect on social support, stigma and QoL was significantly increased by time and group with low and high empowerment. No adverse events were reported. The empowerment intervention was efficacious in improving QoL of HIV infected people.

The choice between a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor- and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen for initiation of antiretroviral treatment - results from an observational study in Germany

BACKGROUND

This study aims at identifying predictors of the treatment decision of German physicians with regard to a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r) -based initial treatment regimen.

METHODS

The study is based on a sub analysis of a nation-wide multi-centre, non-interventional, prospective cohort study. 133 patients were identified, who received antiretroviral first-line therapy. By means of a logistic regression, factors that determine the treatment strategy for treatment-naïve patients were analysed.

RESULTS

Compared to patients receiving a NNRTI-based initial regimen, patients treated with PI/r are slightly younger, less educated, in a later stage of HIV and have more concomitant diseases. Regression analysis revealed that being in a later stage of HIV (CDC-C) is significantly associated with a PI/r-based treatment decision.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis is the first study in Germany investigating sociodemographic and disease-specific parameters associated with a NNRTI- or a PI/r-based initial treatment decision. The results confirm that the treatment decision for a PI/r strategy is associated with disease severity.

Simplification of HAART therapy on ambulatory HIV patients in Malaysia:a randomized controlled trial

Objective:

Evaluate the impact of fixed-dose combination (FDC) containing emtricitabine (FTC), tenofovir (TDF), and efavirenz (EFV) versus a free-dose combination (FRC) of the same three drugs on clinical outcomes, adherence and quality of life in Malaysian outpatients with HIV.

Methods:

HIV patients (n=120) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the infectious disease clinic of Hospital Sungai Buloh were randomized to either FDC (n=60) or FRC (n=60). Morisky scores, health-related quality of life scores and clinical outcomes such as CD4 count and viral load were assessed in both groups at baseline and six months.

Result:

Patients on FDC (108 SD=1.1) had a significantly higher CD4 count increase compared to the FRC group (746.1 SD=36.3 vs 799.8 SD=33.8) (p <0.001). The viral load profile was unchanged and remained undetectable in both groups. The quality of life EQ-5D scores showed a positive correlation with CD4 counts in the FDC group (ρ=0.301, p=0.019) at six months. On the other hand, quality of life EQ-VAS scores was significantly associated with medication adherence in the FDC group at six months (ρ=0.749, p=0.05). However, no significant changes or associations were observed in the FRC group.

Conclusion:

Management of HAART using an FDC demonstrated a positive clinical outcome, adherence and quality of life within six months in local HIV patients.

Longer duration of homelessness is associated with a lower likelihood of non-detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load among people who use illicit drugs in a Canadian setting

Homelessness is common among people who use drugs (PWUD) and, for those living with HIV/AIDS, an important contributor to sub-optimal HIV treatment outcomes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the duration of homelessness and the likelihood of plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL) non-detectability among a cohort of HIV-positive PWUD. We used data from the ACCESS study, a long-running prospective cohort study of HIV-positive PWUD linked to comprehensive HIV clinical records including systematic plasma HIV-1 RNA VL monitoring. We estimated the longitudinal relationship between the duration of homelessness and the likelihood of exhibiting a non-detectable VL (i.e., <500 copies/mL plasma) using generalized linear mixed-effects modelling. Between May 1996 and June 2014, 922 highly active antiretroviral therapy-exposed participants were recruited and contributed 8188 observations. Of these, 4800 (59%) were characterized by non-detectable VL. Participants reported they were homeless in 910 (11%) interviews (median: six months, interquartile range: 6-12 months). A longer duration of homelessness was associated with lower odds of VL non-detectability (adjusted odds ratio = 0.71 per six-month period of homelessness, 95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.83) after adjustment for age, ancestry, drug use patterns, engagement in addiction treatment, and other potential confounders. Longer durations of episodes of homelessness in this cohort of HIV-positive illicit drug users were associated with a lower likelihood of plasma VL non-detectability. Our findings suggest that interventions that seek to promptly house homeless individuals, such as Housing First approaches, might assist in maximizing the clinical and public health benefits of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Housing Status, Medical Care, and Health Outcomes Among People Living With HIV/AIDS: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests responses to HIV that combine individual-level interventions with those that address structural or contextual factors that influence risks and health outcomes of infection. Housing is such a factor. Housing occupies a strategic position as an intermediate structural factor, linking "upstream" economic, social, and cultural determinants to the more immediate physical and social environments in which everyday life is lived. The importance of housing status for HIV prevention and care has been recognized, but much of this attention has focused on homeless individuals as a special risk group. Analyses have less often addressed community housing availability and conditions as factors influencing population health or unstable, inadequate, or unaffordable housing as a situation or temporary state. A focus on individual-level characteristics associated with literal homelessness glosses over social, economic, and policy drivers operating largely outside any specific individual's control that affect housing and residential environments and the health resources or risk exposures such contexts provide.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the available empirical evidence on the association between housing status (broadly defined), medical care, and health outcomes among people with HIV and analyzed results to inform future research, program development, and policy implementation.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched 8 electronic health and social science databases from January 1, 1996, through March 31, 2014, using search terms related to housing, dwelling, and living arrangements and HIV and AIDS. We contacted experts for additional literature.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We selected articles if they were quantitative analyses published in English, French, or Spanish that included at least 1 measure of housing status as an independent variable and at least 1 health status, health care, treatment adherence, or risk behavior outcome among people with HIV in high-income countries. We defined housing status to include consideration of material or social dimensions of housing adequacy, stability, and security of tenure.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality appraisal. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials and a modified version of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Appraisal Tool for nonintervention studies. In our quality appraisal, we focused on issues of quality for observational studies: appropriate methods for determining exposure and measuring outcomes and methods to control confounding.

RESULTS

Searches yielded 5528 references from which we included 152 studies, representing 139,757 HIV-positive participants. Most studies were conducted in the United States and Canada. Studies examined access and utilization of HIV medical care, adherence to antiretroviral medications, HIV clinical outcomes, other health outcomes, emergency department and inpatient utilization, and sex and drug risk behaviors. With rare exceptions, across studies in all domains, worse housing status was independently associated with worse outcomes, controlling for a range of individual patient and care system characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Lack of stable, secure, adequate housing is a significant barrier to consistent and appropriate HIV medical care, access and adherence to antiretroviral medications, sustained viral suppression, and risk of forward transmission. Studies that examined the history of homelessness or problematic housing years before outcome assessment were least likely to find negative outcomes, homelessness being a potentially modifiable contextual factor. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies indicate an independent effect of housing assistance on improved outcomes for formerly homeless or inadequately housed people with HIV. Housing challenges result from complex interactions between individual vulnerabilities and broader economic, political, and legal structural determinants of health. The broad structural processes sustaining social exclusion and inequality seem beyond the immediate reach of HIV interventions, but changing housing and residential environments is both possible and promising.

Treatment strategies for treatment naïve HIV patients in Germany: evidence from claims data

A recent observational study of HIV patients in Germany suggests that treatment naïve patients that are in a more advanced stage of their disease are more likely to receive a treatment regimen based on a boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r) compared with a non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor (NNRTI) base regimen. To validate those results we analysed claims data of seven German sickness funds from 2009 to 2012 with approximately 4 million beneficiaries. Patients in a more advanced disease state (CDC class C) had a higher likelihood to receive a PI/r based regime rather than a NNRTI based regimen as their initial treatment. There was also a significant correlation between PI/r based regimen and number of comorbidities but not with age. Our results confirm a highly significant relationship between being in a more severe stage of HIV disease and a PI/r based treatment regimen.

Risk of first-line antiretroviral therapy failure in HIV-infected Thai children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Adolescence may affect adherence and response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Limited data are available regarding the long-term treatment outcomes of perinatal HIV-infected adolescents.

METHODS

Data from perinatally acquired HIV-infected Thai children who started first-line nonnucleoside analog-based HAART before 18 years of age and treated for ≥24 weeks were analyzed. Children were categorized by age at HAART initiation; age<3 years, 3-9 years, early adolescence (10-13 years) and middle adolescence (14-16 years). CD4 and HIV-RNA were monitored every 6-12 months. Virologic failure (VF) was defined as HIV-RNA≥1000 copies/mL after ≥24 weeks of HAART.

RESULTS

Of 840 children, 68% were in pre-adolescence. Median baseline CD4% was 7.9%. Use of nevirapine versus efavirenz was 77:23%. Median duration of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based HAART was 5.6 years. No differences between groups were observed for rate of HIV-RNA<50 copies/mL (68%, P=0.18) and rate of VF (28%, P=0.82), median time to VF (22 months, P=0.13). Incidence of VF per 100 child-year in children age<3 years, 3-9 years, early adolescence and middle adolescence were 7.9, 4.7, 7.4 and 10.8, respectively (P=0.012). Median adherence by pill count was 97.3% (P=0.23). By multivariate analysis, predictors for VF were age at HAART initiation of <3 years (HR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.18-2.55), age 10-16 years (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.09-1.97), and nevirapine use (HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.14-2.32).

CONCLUSIONS

VF rates were observed in one-third of long-term treated Thai children on first-line HAART. Age 3-9 years at HAART initiation was associated with less VF compared with those younger or older, whereas children who used nevirapine had higher VF.

Medication adherence and quality of life among the elderly with diabetic retinopathy

METHOD

one hundred (n=100) elderly outpatients with diabetic retinopathy taking antihypertensives and/or oral antidiabetics/insulin were interviewed. Adherence was evaluated by the adherence proportion and its association with the care taken in administrating medications and by the Morisky Scale. The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was used to evaluate HRQoL.

RESULTS

most (58%) reported the use of 80% or more of the prescribed dose and care in utilizing the medication. The item "stopping the drug when experiencing an adverse event", from the Morisky Scale, explained 12.8% and 13.5% of the variability of adherence proportion to antihypertensives and oral antidiabetics/insulin, respectively.

CONCLUSION

there was better HRQoL in the Color Vision, Driving and Social Functioning domains of the NEI VFQ-25. Individuals with lower scores on the NEI VFQ-25 and higher scores on the Morisky Scale presented greater chance to be nonadherent to the pharmacological treatment of diabetes and hypertension.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

METHODS

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

RESULTS

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

Background

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

Methods

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

Results

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0142-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Simplifying antiretroviral therapy to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy did not improve quality of life and therapy adherence in pretreated HIV-infected children

We reported quality of life (QOL) and adherence in HIV-infected children after simplifying the antiretroviral regimen by switching to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy (mLPV/r). HIV-infected children with HIV-RNA <50 copies/ml while using second-line double boosted protease inhibitors were switched to mLPV/r. Primary caregivers completed PACTG QOL questionnaires at weeks 0, 48, 96, and 144. Adherence by pill count was performed at every visit. Thirty-eight pretreated HIV-infected Thai children were enrolled. The median (IQR) age was 11.5 (10.2-13.2) years and 53% were female. At enrollment, 34 used LPV/r+saquinavir and four used LPV/r+indinavir. The median (IQR) CD4% was 27 (23-30)%. At week 144, QOL scores were similar to baseline for all domains. A transient increase in the symptoms domain score was seen at week 96 (p=0.01), whereas the physical resilience domain score was decreased at weeks 48 and 96 (both p<0.05). Despite the mean number of pills decreasing from 7.9 pills/day before and 3.7 pills/day after mLPV/r (p<0.001), there were no differences over time in adherence rates by pill count and proportion of children with poor adherence (all p>0.05). Our study did not demonstrate improvement of QOL scores and adherence rates by pill count in pretreated HIV-infected children after simplification of the antiretroviral regimen to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy.

The influence of psychological variables on health-related quality of life among HIV-positive individuals with a history of intravenous drug use

OBJECTIVE

Intravenous drug use (IDU) remains a prominent pathway of HIV transmission in the United States, though little is known about modifiable factors influencing quality of life among IDUs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of psychological variables (e.g., depression and anxiety) on health-related quality of life among HIV-positive individuals with a history of IDU who were enrolled in outpatient treatment for opioid dependence.

METHOD

108 HIV-positive individuals with a history of IDU and participating in current outpatient treatment for opiate dependence who were screened for participation in a depression and adherence study reported sociodemographic data, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Multidimensional Health Assessment using the ACTG-SF 21).

RESULTS

Multiple regression models controlling for disease stage and background characteristics identified significant negative relationships between General Health Perception and Functioning without Pain for anxiety and depression, and between Role Functioning and Physical Functioning for anxiety. CD4 cell count was significantly related to Physical Functioning only.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that distress (both depression and anxiety) contribute significantly to variation in HRQoL over and above the effects of disease variables. Effective depression and anxiety treatment may result in improved overall functioning.

Cost-effectiveness of adherence interventions for highly active antiretroviral therapy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions aiming to increase the adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected patients in developed countries (WHO stratum A).

METHODS

A systematic search for comparative health economic studies was conducted in the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, CINAHL, HEED, and EconLit. The identified publications were selected by two reviewers independently according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Furthermore, these were evaluated according to a standardized checklist and finally extracted, analyzed, and summarized.

RESULTS

After reviewing the abstracts and full texts four relevant studies were identified. Different educational programs were compared as well as the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). A critical aspect to be considered in particular was the poor transparency of the cost data. In three cost-utility analyses the costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) in the baseline scenario were each under USD 15,000. The sensitivity analyses with a presumed maximum threshold of USD 50,000/QALY showed a predominantly cost-effective result. In one study that examined DOT the costs add up to over USD 150,000/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that adherence interventions for HAART in HIV-infected patients can be cost-effective. Nevertheless, the quality of the included studies is deficient and only a few of the possible adherence interventions are taken into consideration. A final assessment of the cost-effectiveness of adherence interventions in general is, therefore, not possible.

Risk and protective factors associated with health-related quality of life among older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease

PURPOSE

To identify risk and protective factors associated with mental and physical health-related quality of life, after controlling for key background characteristics, in a population of older gay and bisexual men living with HIV disease. Previous research examining quality of life among persons living with HIV rarely includes older adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Survey responses from 226 gay and bisexual men aged 50 and older, and living with HIV disease, which were part of the Caring and Aging with Pride study, were analyzed using multivariate linear regression models.

RESULTS

Findings reveal that comorbidity, limitations in activities, and victimization are significant risk factors for decreased physical and mental health-related quality of life. Stigma and HIV progression did not contribute to the overall outcome variables in multivariate models. Social support and self-efficacy serve as protective factors although social support was only significant with mental health-related quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS

Comorbidity, functional limitations, and lifetime victimization are risks to quality of life among older gay and bisexual men with HIV disease. Self-efficacy and social support represent intrapersonal and interpersonal resources that can be enhanced through interventions to improve health-related quality of life.

Understanding how adherence goals promote adherence behaviours: a repeated measure observational study with HIV seropositive patients

BACKGROUND

The extent to which patients follow treatments as prescribed is pivotal to treatment success. An exceptionally high level (> 95%) of HIV medication adherence is required to suppress viral replication and protect the immune system and a similarly high level (> 80%) of adherence has also been suggested in order to benefit from prescribed exercise programmes. However, in clinical practice, adherence to both often falls below the desirable level. This project aims to investigate a wide range of psychological and personality factors that may lead to adherence/non-adherence to medical treatment and exercise programmes.

METHODS

HIV positive patients who are referred to the physiotherapist-led 10-week exercise programme as part of the standard care are continuously recruited. Data on social cognitive variables (attitude, intention, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and outcome beliefs) about the goal and specific behaviours, selected personality factors, perceived quality of life, physical activity, self-reported adherence and physical assessment are collected at baseline, at the end of the exercise programme and again 3 months later. The project incorporates objective measures of both exercise (attendance log and improvement in physical measures such as improved fitness level, weight loss, improved circumferential anthropometric measures) and medication adherence (verified by non-invasive hair analysis).

DISCUSSION

The novelty of this project comes from two key aspects, complemented with objective information on exercise and medication adherence. The project assesses beliefs about both the underlying goal such as following prescribed treatment; and about the specific behaviours such as undertaking the exercise or taking the medication, using both implicit and explicit assessments of patients' beliefs and attitudes. We predict that i) the way people think about the underlying goal of their treatments explains medication and exercise behaviours over and above the effects of the behaviour-specific thinking and ii) the relationship between adherence to exercise and to medical treatment is stronger among those with more favourable views about the goal. Results from this study should identify the key contributing factors to inform subsequent adherence research and afford a more streamlined assessment matrix. The project also aims to inform patient care practices. UK CLINICAL RESEARCH NETWORK REGISTRATION NUMBER: UKCRN 7842.

Prospective prediction of viral suppression and immune response nine months after ART initiation in Seattle, WA

Knowing at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation which patients might be at greatest risk for failure to achieve viral suppression would enable providers to target patients most in need and tailor their care appropriately. This study involved multilevel modeling of data from a randomized controlled trial among outpatients in Seattle, WA, USA. The 224 participants initiating or switching ART at baseline were 24% female, 34% heterosexual, and 47% Caucasian. Of 24 baseline demographic and psychosocial patient-level variables modeled in separate generalized estimating equations, only employment predicted changes in HIV-1 RNA viral load or CD4 lymphocyte count over the course of the 9-month trial. Although the findings require replication, they suggest adherence support strategies should emphasize close monitoring and support for all patients initiating ART.

Measuring therapeutic adherence in systemic lupus erythematosus with electronic monitoring

Objective: We used an electronic monitoring system to quantify adherence to prescribed oral therapies by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Participants were included from a larger longitudinal study cohort of 110 patients recruited from publicly-funded rheumatology clinics, 78 of whom agreed to have their SLE drug therapy electronically monitored for two years with the Medication Events Monitoring System (MEMS®, AARDEX Group). Adherence was determined as the percentage of days (weeks for methotrexate) the patient took the medication as prescribed by the physician. Collected data included SLEDAI; SLICC damage index for SLE (SDI); medical outcome study social support survey (MOS-SSS); Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale (CESD); and quality of life (SF-12). Results: Ninety percent of the cohort was female, 45% were Hispanic, and 49% were African-American. Mean age was 36.3 years, disease duration was 5.9 years, SLEDAI score was 3.2, and SDI score was 0.9. Adherence was 62% for all drugs combined and did not differ significantly for individual medications. Patients with more depression ( p < 0.02), and higher number of pills taken daily ( p < 0.02) were more likely to be non-adherent. Only one-fourth of the patients had an average adherence of ≥80%; these patients had a better mental component score (SF-12) at 24 months than non-adherent patients ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: Electronic monitoring demonstrated that only one-fourth of the patients had an adherence rate ≥80%. Polypharmacy and depression were associated with non-adherence.

Does treatment adherence correlates with health related quality of life? Findings from a cross sectional study

Background

Although medication adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are two different outcome measures, it is believed that adherence to medication leads to an improvement in overall HRQoL. The study aimed to evaluate the association between medication adherence and HRQoL.

Methods

A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study design was undertaken with hypertension patients attending public hospitals in Quetta city, Pakistan. HRQoL was measured by Euroqol EQ-5D. Medication adherence was assessed by the Drug Attitude Inventory. Descriptive statistics was used to tabulate demographic and disease-related information. Spearmans correlation was used to assess the association between the study variables. All analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0.

Results

Among 385 study patients, the mean age (SD) was 39.02 (6.59), with 68.8% of males dominating the entire cohort. The mean (SD) duration of hypertension was 3.010.939years. Forty percent (n=154) had a bachelors degree level of education with 34.8% (n=134) working in the private sector. A negative and weak correlation (0.77) between medication adherence and EQ-5D was reported. In addition, a negative weak correlation (0.120) was observed among medication adherence and EQ-VAS.

Conclusions

Correlations among the study variables were negligible and negative. Hence, there is no apparent relationship between the variables.

Functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

AIMS

To report a study of the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence, as mediated by medication-taking self-efficacy, while controlling for the effect of key demographic variables (such as race, income and level of education).

BACKGROUND

Medication adherence is critical to successful HIV/AIDS self-management. Despite simplified regimens and the availability of tools to assist with medication-taking, adherence remains a challenge for many people living with HIV/AIDS.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, secondary analysis.

METHODS

Data for this study of 302 adults living with HIV/AIDS who were taking antiretroviral medications were collected from January 2004-December 2007. Medication adherence was measured using electronic event monitors. Bivariate analyses and stepwise regression were conducted to examine the associations among functional health literacy, medication-taking self-efficacy and HIV medication adherence.

RESULTS

Overall, functional health literacy was much higher than expected; however, adherence in this sample was sub-optimal. Higher medication-taking self-efficacy was associated with higher medication adherence; however, functional health literacy was not significantly related to either medication adherence or self-efficacy beliefs. Hence, medication-taking self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between functional health literacy and medication adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication adherence continues to be an issue for people living with HIV/AIDS. Additional research is needed to understand the disparate findings related to functional health literacy and medication adherence in this and other studies examining this association.

Impact of adherence counseling dose on antiretroviral adherence and HIV viral load among HIV-infected methadone maintained drug users

Adherence counseling can improve antiretroviral adherence and related health outcomes in HIV-infected individuals. However, little is known about how much counseling is necessary to achieve clinically significant effects. We investigated antiretroviral adherence and HIV viral load relative to the number of hours of adherence counseling received by 60 HIV-infected drug users participating in a trial of directly observed antiretroviral therapy delivered in methadone clinics. Our adherence counseling intervention combined motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral counseling, was designed to include six 30 minute individual counseling sessions with unlimited "booster" sessions, and was offered to all participants in the parent trial. We found that, among those who participated in adherence counseling, dose of counseling had a significant positive relationship with antiretroviral adherence measured after the conclusion of counseling. Specifically, a liner mixed-effects model revealed that each additional hour of counseling was significantly associated with a 20% increase in post-counseling adherence. However, the number of cumulative adherence counseling hours was not significantly associated with HIV viral load, also measured after the conclusion of counseling. Our findings suggest that more intensive adherence counseling interventions may have a greater impact on antiretroviral adherence than less intensive interventions; however, it remains unknown how much counseling is required to impact HIV viral load.

Homelessness as a structural barrier to effective antiretroviral therapy among HIV-seropositive illicit drug users in a Canadian setting

Despite the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-seropositive injection drug users (IDU) continue to suffer from elevated levels of morbidity and mortality. Evidence is needed to identify social- and structural-level barriers to effective ART. We investigated the impact of homelessness on plasma HIV RNA response among illicit drug users initiating ART in a setting with free and universal access to HIV care. We accessed data from a long-running prospective cohort of community-recruited IDU linked to comprehensive HIV clinical monitoring and ART dispensation records. Using Cox proportional hazards with recurrent events modeling, we estimated the independent effect of homelessness on time to plasma HIV viral load suppression. Between May 1996 and September 2009, 247 antiretroviral naïve individuals initiated ART and contributed 1755 person-years of follow-up. Among these individuals, the incidence density of plasma HIV RNA suppression less than 500 copies/mm(3) was 56.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 46.9-66.0) per 100 person-years. In unadjusted analyses, homelessness was strongly associated with lower rates suppression (hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.40-0.78, p = 0.001), however, after adjustment for adherence this association was no longer significant (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.56-1.11, p = 0.177). Homelessness poses a significant structural barrier to effective HIV treatment. However, since this relationship appears to be mediated by lower levels of ART adherence, interventions to improve adherence among members of this vulnerable population are needed.

Factors associated with non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) requires high-level (> 95%) adherence. Kenya is rolling out ART access programmes and, issue of adherence to therapy is therefore imperative. However, published data on adherence to ART in Kenya is limited. This study assessed adherence to ART and identified factors responsible for non adherence in Nairobi.

METHODS

This is a multiple facility-based cross-sectional study, where 416 patients aged over 18 years were systematically selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire about their experience taking ART. Additional data was extracted from hospital records. Patients were grouped into adherent and non-adherent based on a composite score derived from a three questions adherence tool developed by Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE). Multivariate regression model was used to determine predictors of non-adherence.

RESULTS

Overall, 403 patients responded; 35% males and 65% females, 18% were non-adherent, and main (38%) reason for missing therapy were being busy and forgetting. Accessing ART in a clinic within walking distance from home (OR = 2.387, CI.95 = 1.155-4.931; p = 0.019) and difficulty with dosing schedule (OR = 2.310, CI.95 = 1.211-4.408, p = 0.011) predicted non-adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found better adherence to HAART in Nairobi compared to previous studies in Kenya. However, this can be improved further by employing fitting strategies to improve patients' ability to fit therapy in own lifestyle and cue-dose training to impact forgetfulness. Further work to determine why patients accessing therapy from ARV clinics within walking distance from their residence did not adhere is recommended.

Perceived burden in adherence of antiretroviral treatment in rural China

To determine the level of antiretroviral treatment adherence and explore the correlated factors of perceived burden of taking antiretroviral medications among people living with HIV (PLH) in a rural area of China. Data were collected from 66 PLH who were currently receiving antiretroviral treatment. Face-to-face interviews were conducted during August to October, 2009. Approximately 18.2% of participants failed to adhere to antiretroviral treatment in the previous 30 days. A majority of PLH reported that taking antiretroviral medications posed a burden to them. Those who perceived a higher level of burden were more likely to be women, to have lower annual income, and to report a high level of depressive symptoms, poor physical health, and strained family interactions. Findings suggest that future programs in promoting adherence to antiretroviral treatment should address issues related to psychosocial well-being and PLH's interactions with their family members.

Sticking to it: the effect of maximally assisted therapy on antiretroviral treatment adherence among individuals living with HIV who are unstably housed

Housing is a known determinant of health behaviors, which includes adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Within the Longitudinal Investigations into Supportive and Ancillary Health Services (LISA) study, unstable housing is inversely associated with adherence. Several comprehensive adherence support services have emerged to improve adherence for unstably housed or otherwise vulnerable populations. The Maximally Assisted Therapy (MAT) program in Vancouver, British Columbia uses a multidisciplinary approach to support HIV-positive clients with a history of addictions or mental illness, many of whom also experience episodic homelessness. This study investigated the association between antiretroviral adherence and use of support services, including the MAT program, amongst people living with HIV and AIDS who are unstably housed in the LISA sample. Of the 212 unstably housed participants, those who attended the MAT program were 4.76 times more likely to be ≥95% adherent (95% CI 1.72-13.13; P = 0.003) than those who did not. The findings suggest that in the absence of sustainable housing solutions, programs such as MAT play an important role in supporting treatment adherence in this population.

Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART): a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis synthesizes eighty-four observational studies, conducted across twenty countries, to determine the mean proportion of people who reported ≥90% adherence to prescribed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to identify the factors associated with high levels of adherence. Eight electronic databases were searched to locate all relevant studies available by January 2010, which were then coded for sample characteristics and adherence levels. The average rate of reporting ≥90% adherent HAART adherence is 62%. However, this proportion varies greatly across studies. In particular, a greater proportion of individuals maintaining ≥90% adherence to HAART is more likely in studies with higher proportions of men who have sex with men (MSM) and lower proportions of injection drug users (IDU), with participants in an earlier stage of infection, and in studies conducted in countries characterized by lower Human Development Index (HDI) scores.

Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in Spain. A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the percentage of adherence to highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Spanish observational studies and to identify the variables associated with adherence.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were used to locate the studies. Six inclusion criteria were established. Two coders codified the variables independently. Intercoder reliability was calculated. Publication bias was analyzed through the Begg, Egger and Trim and Fill tests. Homogeneity was evaluated using the Q test and the l² index. A random effects model was assumed to estimate both the overall percentage of adherence and to explain heterogeneity.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 23 observational studies, yielding a total of 34 adherence estimates. The sample was composed of 9,931 HIV-positive individuals (72% men) older than 18 years under treatment with HAART. The percentage of patients adhering to an intake of >90% of the prescribed antiretroviral drugs was 55%. Wide heterogeneity was detected (I² =91.20; 95%CI: 88.75-93.13). Adherence was mainly measured using a single strategy (47.8%), the most widely used being self-report (48.7%). In the univariate analysis, the following factors were significant: infection stages A (β=0.68, p <0.001) and B (β=-0.56, p <0.01), viral loads >200 copies/ml (β=-0.41, p <0.05) and <200 (β=0.39, p <0.05), and university education (β=-0.66, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall percentage of adherence was 55%, although this value may be an overestimate. Adherence was associated with infection stage A and with a viral load of <200 copies/ml.

Adherence, asthma control, generic and disease-specific quality-of-life instruments in asthma

Prior studies have investigated the association between generic health-related quality of life and medication adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the association between medication adherence and health-related quality of life using both a disease-specific and generic metric in a community setting. Overall, the authors' study findings show no association between adherence and health-related quality of life, supporting the results by Cote and colleagues that factors other than medication adherence are important in explaining health-related quality of life. Furthermore, adherence was not significantly associated with asthma severity, although the strong association between asthma control and health-related quality of life, and asthma control and adherence indicates that asthma control is an important vital sign.

HIV Patient Characteristics that Affect Adherence to Exercise Programmes: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Benefits of exercise for HIV-infected persons have been documented, although in clinical practice, diminished adherence to exercise limits the effectiveness of this auxiliary treatment. Exercise intervention studies carry the caveat that the results are limited to volunteers with good compliance and completion profiles.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify characteristics contributing to adherence vs non-adherence to prescribed supervised 10-week 75-minute aerobic and progressive resistance exercise programme in a clinical setting that requires twice-weekly attendance at the physiotherapy gym.

STUDY DESIGN

This observational study was comprised of 11 males and 11 females, physician-assessed, HIV seropositive patients referred to exercise programmes in a tertiary multi-disciplinary outpatient service for HIV patients at an urban Teaching Hospital in London (UK). Measurements taken prior to the exercise programme were used as dependent variables and include CD4 count, fitness level, flexibility and perceived physical-, emotional-, functional- and psychological- well-being. Attendance records were categorised into a dichotomous independent variable of adherence based on a natural break that occurred at 8/20 attended sessions.

RESULTS

Prior-to-treatment differences in perceived physical, functional and psychological well-being exist between adherent and non-adherent patients, but no differences were found in age, CD4 count or fitness level. Perceived well-being explained 55.7% of the variances in attendance. Gender and reason for referral appear to be independent of adherence, whereas ethnicity may play an influential role.

CONCLUSION

Perceived well-being appears to differentiate between adherent and non-adherent patients. Further studies are required to investigate other psychological characteristics and barriers to maintaining exercise.

Anxiety and depression symptoms as risk factors for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Brazil

Depression and anxiety are common among HIV-infected people and rank among the strongest predictors of non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This longitudinal study aimed to assess whether symptoms of anxiety and depression are predictors of non-adherence among patients initiating ART at two public referral centers (n = 293) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Prevalence of severe anxiety and depression symptoms before starting ART was 12.6% and 5.8%, respectively. Severe anxiety was a predictor of non-adherence to ART during follow-up period (RH = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.14-3.06) adjusted for low education, unemployment, alcohol use in the last month and symptoms of AIDS; while a history of injection drug use had borderline statistical significance with non-adherence. These findings suggest that using a brief screening procedure to assess anxiety and depression symptoms before initiating ART help identify individuals for interventions to improve adherence and quality of life.

Factors influencing quality of life of people living with HIV in Estonia: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Identification of factors that determine quality of life is important in order to better tailor health and social care services, and thereby improve the functioning and well being of people living with HIV. The estimated number of people living with HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia is 1.6 million. Little is known about the quality of life of people living with HIV in this region. The main purpose of the present study was to identify the factors influencing quality of life in a sample of HIV-infected persons in Estonia.

Methods

A convenient sample of 451 patients attending three infectious diseases clinics for routine HIV clinical care visits was recruited for a cross-sectional survey. The World Health Organization's Quality of Life HIV instrument was used to measure quality of life of the participants and medical data was abstracted from clinical records.

Results

Good overall quality of life was reported by 42.6% (95% CI: 38.0–47.2%) of the study participants (53% men, 60% self-identify as injecting drug users, 82% <30 years of age, 30% with CD4+ T cell count <300 cells/mm³, and 22% on antiretroviral treatment). We identified the following variables as independent predictors of good overall quality of life: being currently employed or studying (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.18–4.38); and the absence of HIV-related symptoms (AOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.24–4.29).

Conclusion

A comprehensive and competent care system, including health care providers and social workers, is required for an effective response. In addition, social interventions should seek to enhance the economic and employment opportunities for people living with HIV in the region.

Quality of life and social support among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Western Uganda

Quality of life (QOL) among patients with HIV/AIDS has been shown to improve once treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been initiated. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Western Uganda to examine the factors associated with QOL among patients who had received ART for the duration of at least six months. We interviewed 330 patients attending the HIV/AIDS clinic at two government-supported hospitals in Western Uganda. We measured QOL using a culturally adapted version of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-HIV) tool and calculated the physical health summary (PHS) and mental health summary (MHS) scores. In addition, data were collected on sociodemographic factors, three-day self-reported adherence, social support, sexual behavior, CD4 count and viral load. Informational social support was significantly positively correlated with PHS (p=0.001) and MHS (p=0.002). Affectionate support was also significantly positively correlated to PHS (p=0.05) and MHS (p=0.03) but tangible support was not (PHS p value=0.85 and MHS p value=0.31). In the univariate analysis, older age, rural dwelling, alcohol use, CD4 count less than 200, and ART duration of less than one year were significantly associated with lower PHS scores. Lower PHS scores were also associated with sexual inactivity. In multivariate analysis, higher scores on informational social support and CD4> or =200 were associated with higher PHS score and past or recent alcohol consumption was associated with lower scores on MHS. Optimizing ART to restore CD4 count and provision of informational and affectionate social support but not tangible support, to HIV/AIDS patients may improve their QOL.

Factors related to quality of life in treatment-adherent, successfully treated HIV patients in France

The objectives of this study were to document the psychosocial characteristics of treatment-adherent, successfully treated HIV patients and to examine the relationships between psychosocial variables. The sample was composed of 133 persons living with HIV, with optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy and with no detectable viral load. The psychosocial profile of the cohort showed that participants had moderate levels of stress, used a wide range of strategies to adjust to their situation and perceived their social support to be good. As well, they evaluated their quality of life (Medical Outcome Study-HIV) as moderate. Quality of life in psychological domain is largely explained by perceived stress (53%). Quality of life in physical domain is largely dependent on discomfort reported arising from HIV-associated symptoms and treatment (39%). Findings suggest that treatment-adherent, successfully treated patients with HIV are still a fragile population, and that it is essential to provide interventions that reinforce their ways of coping.

Physical and emotional health outcomes after 12 months of public-sector antiretroviral treatment in the Free State Province of South Africa: a longitudinal study using structural equation modelling

Background

African and Asian cohort studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in resource-limited settings. However, reports of the long-term changes in the physical and emotional quality of life (QoL) of patients on ART in these settings are still scarce. In this study, we assessed the physical and emotional QoL after six and 12 months of ART of a sample of 268 patients enrolled in South Africa's public-sector ART programme. The study also tested the impact of the adverse effects of medication on patients' physical and emotional QoL.

Methods

A stratified random sample of 268 patients undergoing ART was interviewed at baseline (< 6 months ART) and follow-up (< 12 months ART). A model of the relationships between the duration of ART, the adverse effects of medication, and physical and emotional QoL (measured using EUROQOL-5D) was tested using structural equation modelling.

Results

The improved physical and emotional QoL shown at baseline was sustained over the 12-month study period, because treatment duration was not significantly associated with changes in the patients' QoL. Physical QoL significantly and positively influenced the patients' emotional QoL (subjective well-being [SWB]) (β = 0.33, P < 0.01). Longitudinal data showed that patients reported significantly fewer adverse effects at follow-up than at baseline (β = -0.38, P < 0.001) and that these adverse effects negatively influenced physical (β = -0.27, P < 0.01) and emotional QoL (β = -0.15, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that the South African public-sector ART programme is effective in delivering sustained improvement in patient well-being. However, the results should encourage clinicians and lay health workers to be vigilant regarding the adverse effects of treatment, because they can seriously affect physical and emotional QoL.