Intentional Medication Nonadherence Because of Interactive Toxicity Beliefs Among HIV-Positive Active Drug Users

Perceived sensitivity to medicines and medication concerns beliefs predict intentional nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among young people living with HIV

Objective: Among the sources of antiretroviral therapy (ART) nonadherence are patient decisions to skip or stop taking their medications, often stemming from medication beliefs and concerns about side- effects. While individuals who perceive greater sensitivity to medicines may be prone to medication concerns, understanding how these factors contribute to HIV treatment adherence requires further research. The current study tested the direct and indirect effects of perceived sensitivity to medicines on intentional nonadherence to ART, and whether medication concerns mediate this association.

Methods: A sample of 418 younger (< 36 years of age) people living with HIV was recruited through community outreach to complete assessments of perceived sensitivity to medicines, medication concerns beliefs, adherence assessed by unannounced phone- based pill counts and HIV viral load, as well as monthly follow- up assessments of intentional nonadherence over a 15- month period.

Results: Analyses at baseline and prospective Poisson regression models conducted over 15- months converged to show that perceived sensitivity to medicines significantly predicted intentional nonadherence to ART through medication concerns.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that people who perceive greater sensitivity to medicines are prone to greater medication concerns that are related to intentional nonadherence. Cognitive behavioral interventions are needed to resolve medication concerns and reduce intentional nonadherence among people receiving ART.

PrEP-Related Interactive Toxicity Beliefs: Associations With Stigma, Substance Use, and PrEP Uptake

Despite documented efficacy in reducing HIV transmission, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among Black sexual minority men (BSMM) is limited. One understudied factor which may impede PrEP uptake is PrEP-related interactive toxicity beliefs (i.e., believing it is hazardous to use alcohol/drugs while taking PrEP). Data from N = 169 HIV negative BSMM over 4 months showed high rates of agreement with at least one alcohol (78%) or drug (84%) interactive toxicity belief. Univariate analyses showed increased alcohol or drug interactive toxicity beliefs predicted lower PrEP uptake. Multivariable regression suggested those with PrEP-related alcohol or drug interactive toxicity beliefs were more likely to report high PrEP stigma, more negative PrEP beliefs (e.g., concern that taking PrEP disrupts life), and were more likely to use alcohol/drugs (respectively) prior to/during sex. Findings warrant intervention work targeting interactive toxicity beliefs with tailored messaging to mitigate PrEP stigma and correct concerns around substance use and PrEP.

Intentional- but not Unintentional Medication Non-adherence was Related with Beliefs about Medicines Among a Multi-Ethnic Sample of People with HIV

Medication non-adherence can be intentional or unintentional. We investigated the prevalence of unintentional and intentional non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the relationship with beliefs about medicines, sociodemographic- and HIV-related variables among people with HIV (PWH) attending the HIV clinic of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers. Participants completed the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and the Beliefs about Medicines (BMQ) questionnaire. About half of 80 participants reported unintentional non-adherence and 20% reported intentional non-adherence. Both unintentional and intentional non-adherence were associated with younger age. Additionally, intentional non-adherence was associated with being a migrant from Suriname /Netherlands Antilles, having more concerns about negative effects of ART and stronger beliefs that medicines in general are overused/ overprescribed. In conclusion, intentional but not unintentional non-adherence was associated with beliefs about medicines. Eliciting and discussing beliefs about medicines may be a promising avenue to address patients' concerns and perceptions thereby potentially enhancing medication adherence.

Effects of a person-centred, nurse-led follow-up programme on adherence to prescribed medication among patients surgically treated for intermittent claudication: randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Management of intermittent claudication should include secondary prevention to reduce the risk of cardiocerebrovascular disease. Patient adherence to secondary prevention is a challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a person-centred, nurse-led follow-up programme could improve adherence to medication compared with standard care.

METHODS

A non-blinded RCT was conducted at two vascular surgery centres in Sweden. Patients with intermittent claudication and scheduled for revascularization were randomized to the intervention or control (standard care) follow-up programme. The primary outcome, adherence to prescribed secondary preventive medication, was based on registry data on dispensed medication and self-reported intake of medication. Secondary outcomes were risk factors for cardiocerebrovascular disease according to the Framingham risk score.

RESULTS

Some 214 patients were randomized and analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The mean proportion of days covered (PDC) at 1 year for lipid-modifying agents was 79 per cent in the intervention and 82 per cent in the control group, whereas it was 92 versus 91 per cent for antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant agents. The groups did not differ in mean PDC (lipid-modifying P = 0.464; antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants P = 0.700) or in change in adherence over time. Self-reported adherence to prescribed medication was higher than registry-based adherence regardless of allocation or medication group (minimum P < 0.001, maximum P = 0.034). There was no difference in median Framingham risk score at 1 year between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the standard follow-up programme, a person-centred, nurse-led follow-up programme did not improve adherence to secondary preventive medication. Adherence was overestimated when self-reported compared with registry-reported.

Believing That It Is Hazardous to Mix Alcohol With Medicines Predicts Intentional Nonadherence to Antiretrovirals

BACKGROUND

Drinking alcohol is a robust predictor of medication nonadherence. In addition to the impact of intoxication on adherence, individuals who believe that it is hazardous to mix medications with alcohol (ie, interactive toxicity beliefs) may forgo taking their medications when drinking. Previous research suggests that alcohol-related intentional nonadherence is a direct result of interactive toxicity beliefs. This study prospectively tested the association between alcohol interactive toxicity beliefs and intentional nonadherence to HIV treatment [ie, antiretroviral therapy (ART)].

METHODS

Four hundred eight people living with HIV completed comprehensive baseline assessments and 15-month attributions for ART nonadherence.

RESULTS

One in 5 participants reported foregoing taking their ART when drinking out of concern for hazardous mixing of alcohol and ART. Poisson regression models predicting the number of months that participants were intentionally nonadherent to ART because they were drinking was predicted by alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs.

CONCLUSIONS

Beliefs that it is hazardous to drink alcohol when taking medications explains intentional nonadherence and should be directly addressed in adherence improvement interventions for people living with HIV who drink alcohol.

A conceptual model of alcohol use and adherence to antiretroviral therapy: systematic review and theoretical implications for mechanisms of action

Alcohol consumption is one of the most prevalent correlates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, yet causal processes underlying this association remain largely unexplored. The goal of this systematic review was to develop a conceptual model that describes the causal effect of alcohol consumption on ART nonadherence. We reviewed 230 studies that examined the association between alcohol consumption and ART adherence with three primary aims: (1) to replicate and extend previous reviews of the literature, (2) to summarize and critique study designs capable of answering questions about temporal overlap and (3) to summarize potential mechanisms of action. A model of alcohol-associated ART nonadherence was proposed to guide future work, integrating general theories of ART adherence and theory on the psychological and behavioral effects of alcohol intoxication. The conceptual model describes two mechanistic processes-prospective memory impairment and interactive toxicity beliefs/avoidance behaviors-involved in alcohol-associated intentional and unintentional nonadherence, respectively. This model can be used to guide future research on the causal processes involved in the frequently observed correlation between alcohol consumption and adherence.

Increasing emergency department admissions for chemsex-related intoxications in Barcelona, Spain, among people living with HIV: an observational study from 2018 to 2020

Background

Chemsex is a novel phenomenon referring to the use of drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB)/gamma-butyrolactone (GABA) and mephedrone, to facilitate, enhance, and prolong the sexual experience in men who have sex with men in large cities internationally. There is a growing concern about chemsex and fatal cases among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of chemsex-related intoxications.

Material and methods

An observational study was conducted in people living with HIV who were admitted for chemsex-related intoxications in an emergency department of a teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from 2018 to 2020. Severe acute intoxications were defined according to the Poisoning Severity Score.

Results

One hundred and fifteen male patients with a median age of 35.6±7 years were included in the study:15 (13.1%) in 2018, 32 (27.8%) in 2019 and 68 (59.1%) in 2020. All patients had stable housing, 107(93.0%) were Spanish citizen and 32 (27.8%) had mental health disorders. Median CD4 lymphocyte count was 624 (500–765) cells/mm³ and 99 (86.1%) had HIV-1 RNA suppression.

Poly-drug use was observed in 51(44.3%) cases and methamphetamine in 75(65,2%) and gammahydroxibutiric acid in 68 (59.1%) were the main drugs used.

Potential drug interactions due to the inhibition of cytochrome P450 by antiviral therapy was determined in 36 (31.3%) patients. Severe intoxications cases affecting neurologic and respiratory systems were diagnosed in 12 (10.4%) patients and no patient died. CD4 cell counts ≤500 cells (O.R.:4.2; C.I.95%:1.2–14.6) and mental health disorders (O.R.: 2.9; C. I 95%: 0.8–9.9) were associated with severe acute drug intoxications in the bivariate analyses.

Conclusions

Chemsex-related intoxications are an increasing clinical problem in people living with HIV. Chemsex should be routinely screened and addressed in clinical practice, particularly for people with mental illness and low CD4 cell counts, who are at higher risk for severe intoxications.

Substance Use-Related Intentional Nonadherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Young Adults Living with HIV

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces HIV disease burden, increases life expectancy, and prevents HIV transmission. Previous research suggests that believing that it is harmful to take ART when using substances (i.e., interactive toxicity beliefs) leads to intentional ART nonadherence; however, these associations have not been investigated among younger adults living with HIV and have not been linked to clinical outcomes. We examined the associations among interactive toxicity beliefs, intentional nonadherence, and HIV clinical outcomes in young adults living with HIV. People living with HIV younger than the age of 36 years who tested positive for at least one substance use biomarker (N = 406) completed a 1-month pretrial run-in study that included computerized interviews, substance use biomarkers, HIV viral load, and unannounced pill counts for ART adherence. Analyses compared three HIV clinical outcome groups: (1) HIV viral unsuppressed, (2) HIV viral suppressed and ART nonadherent, and (3) HIV viral suppressed and ART adherent, on substance use, interactive toxicity beliefs, and substance use-related intentional ART nonadherence. Results showed that a majority of participants reported intentional nonadherence. Participants with unsuppressed HIV reported greater interactive toxicity beliefs and intentional nonadherence. We conclude that intentional nonadherence adds to the detrimental impacts of substance use on ART adherence and interactive toxicity beliefs that foster these behaviors may be amenable to interventions.

Alcohol-Antiretroviral Therapy Interactive Toxicity Beliefs and Intentional Medication Nonadherence: Review of Research with Implications for Interventions

The successful treatment of HIV infection relies on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Alcohol use remains a threat to ART adherence, including the beliefs held by people who drink alcohol that it is harmful to take ART when consuming alcohol (i.e., alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs, AA-ITB). We reviewed the current research that has investigated AA-ITB and their relationship to intentional ART nonadherence. The review of 17 published studies found that AA-ITB are prevalent among people receiving ART and that AA-ITB are directly associated with ART nonadherence and incomplete HIV suppression. Family, friends and healthcare providers are common sources and reinforcers of AA-ITB. Studies suggest that AA-ITB may best be explained by the Medication Necessity and Concerns Beliefs Model, treating AA-ITB as a specific circumstance of medication concerns. Interventions are needed to communicate the realities of potential medication interactions and dispel myths that it is harmful to mix alcohol with ART, while not inadvertently suggesting that it is safe to drink with all medications, which could undermine adherence to ART by increasing alcohol use.

Prevalence, beliefs and impact of drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and illicit drugs among people living with HIV in Spain

Drug use implies important challenges related to HIV management, particularly due to an increased risk of potential interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and illicit drugs (pDDIs). This study analyses the prevalence and severity of pDDIs among people living with HIV (PLHIV). It also explores their awareness of pDDIs and their beliefs about the toxicity that they may cause, as well as the impact of pDDIs on selected health variables. We conducted an on-line cross-sectional survey across 33 Spanish hospitals and NGOs to collect demographics and clinical data. pDDIs were checked against the Interaction Checker developed by Liverpool University. The sample of the present study was composed of 694 PLHIV who used illicit drugs. They represented 49.5% of the 1,401 PLHIV that participated in the survey. After excluding 38 participants due to lack of information on their ART or illicit drug use, 335 (51.1%) participants consuming drugs presented with some potentially significant pDDIs between their ART and illicit drugs, with a mean of 2.1±1.7 (1-10) pDDIs per patient. The drugs most frequently involved in pDDIs were cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and nitrates ("poppers"). The prevalence of pDDIs across ART regimens was: protease inhibitors (41.7%); integrase inhibitor-boosted regimens (32.1%), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (26.3%). An awareness of pDDIs and beliefs about their potential toxicity correlated positively with intentional non-adherence (p<0.0001). Participants with pDDIs exhibited a higher prevalence of intentional non-adherence (2.19±1.04 vs. 1.93±0.94; p = 0.001). The presence of pDDIs was not associated with poorer results in the clinical variables analysed. A significant proportion of PLHIV who use drugs experience pDDIs, thereby requiring close monitoring. pDDIs should be considered in the clinical management of HIV patients. Adequate information about pDDIs and indicators about how to manage ART when PLHIV use drugs could improve ART non-adherence.

Forgetting to take HIV antiretroviral therapy: a qualitative exploration of medication adherence in the third decade of the HIV epidemic in the United States

Optimal adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is challenging, and racial/ethnic disparities in adherence rates are substantial. The most common reason persons living with HIV (PLWH) give for missed ART doses is forgetting. We took a qualitative exploratory approach to describe, from the perspectives of African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino PLWH, what it means to forget to take ART and factors that influence forgetting. Participants (N = 18) were purposively sampled for maximum variability and engaged in semi-structured/in-depth interviews on HIV/ART management. The analysis took a directed content analysis approach. Participants were mostly male (56%) and African American/Black (79%), between 50 and 69 years old, and had lived with HIV for an average of 21 years. Findings were organised into six inter-related themes: (1) forgetting to take ART was a shorthand description of a complex phenomenon, but rarely a simple lapse of memory; (2) ‘forgetting’ was means of managing negative emotions associated with HIV; (3) life events triggered mental health distress/substance use which disrupted adherence; (4) historical traumatic events (including AZT monotherapy) and recent trauma/loss contributed to forgetting; (5) patient-provider interactions could support or impede adherence; and (6) intrinsic motivation was fundamental. Implications for HIV social service and health care settings are described.

'Staying alive' with antiretroviral therapy: a grounded theory study of people living with HIV in Peru

BACKGROUND

To achieve an optimal quality of life through chronic disease management, people living with HIV (PLHIV) must adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART has been available throughout Peru since 2004 without cost in all regions; yet only 60% (43 200) of PLHIV receive ART and 32% are virally suppressed. Despite the low adherence, little is known about the experience of PLHIV with ART adherence in the context of Latin America.

METHODS

A constructivist grounded theory design was used to understand the ART adherence experiences of PLHIV in Northern Peru. Unstructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants resulting in theoretical saturation. All interviews were recorded, immediately transcribed and analysed concurrently with data collection using constant comparative analysis with Atlas.ti (V.8) software. Rigour was maintained through openness, reflexivity, audit trail, memo writing, debriefings, member checks and positionality.

RESULTS

The core category 'staying alive' emerged through the interaction of four categories, including: (1) overcoming barriers; (2) working with the healthcare team; (3) tailoring self-care strategies; and (4) appreciating antiretrovirals. Adherence is not a spontaneous outcome, instead, the surprise of HIV diagnosis transitions to living with HIV as a chronic disease. The healthcare team helps PLHIV realise ART is their life source by enhancing, supporting and facilitating self-care and overcoming barriers.

CONCLUSION

Adherence emerges from experiential learning as PLHIV recognised ART as their life source in balance with their desire to continue living a normal life. Social support and healthcare team interventions help PLHIV implement tailored self-care strategies to overcome personal, social, and structural barriers to adherence. Healthcare professionals need to recognise the challenges confronted by PLHIV as they learn how to continue living while trying to stay alive.

Perceived sensitivity to medicines and the experience of side-effects: understanding intentional medication nonadherence among people living with HIV

Patient initiated decisions to forgo taking medications (i.e. intentional nonadherence) pose significant challenges to managing chronic health conditions. Identifying factors and their underlying mechanisms that impede medication adherence is essential to designing treatment improvement interventions. This study tested a conceptual model that posits the effects of perceived sensitivity to medicines on adherence can be explained by the experience of side-effects, leading to intentionally nonadherent behaviors. Patients receiving HIV care in the southern United States (N = 209) completed measures of perceived sensitivity to medicines, antiretroviral therapy (ART) side-effects, intentional nonadherence and overall adherence. Patients also provided consent to access their electronic medical records to collect subsequent reports of HIV viral load tests. Results indicated that more than one in four participants were intentionally nonadherent to ART. Mediation modeling showed that perceived sensitivity to medicines was associated with greater experience of ART side-effects and intentional nonadherence, which impacted overall ART adherence and HIV viral load. There were also significant indirect effects of perceived sensitivity to medicines on HIV viral load through side-effects and intentional nonadherence. Patients with increased perceived sensitivity to medicines are at risk for poor treatment outcomes and these negative outcomes are partly explained by experiencing greater side-effects and intentional nonadherence.

ART uptake and adherence among women who use drugs globally: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the state of peer-reviewed literature surrounding uptake and adherence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive women who use drugs (WWUD).

METHODS

Consistent with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a scoping literature review on ART uptake and adherence among WWUD, searching PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Sociological Abstracts. Eligibility criteria included: reporting at least one ART uptake or adherence related result among WWUD aged 18 or older; peer-reviewed; published in English between 1996-2018.

RESULTS

Our search identified 6735 studies; 86 met eligibility requirements. ART uptake ranged from 30 % to 76 % and adherence ranged from 27 % to 95 %. Substance use, co-morbid psychiatric disorders, and side effects emerged as the primary ART uptake and adherence barriers among this population. Few facilitators were identified.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first scoping review to look at ART uptake and adherence among WWUD globally. The wide range in uptake and adherence outcomes indicates the need for gold standard assessments, which may differ between high and low resource settings. This study offers rich insight into uptake and adherence barriers and facilitators, primarily at the intrapersonal level. More research is needed to examine interventions that focus on additional levels of the SEM (e.g., community and policy levels). These review findings can inform ART interventions, future research, and offer guidance to other support services with WWUD, such as PrEP interventions.

Follow-up after surgical treatment for intermittent claudication (FASTIC): a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial

Background

Intermittent claudication (IC) is a classic symptom of peripheral arterial disease, and strongly associated with coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Treatment of IC and secondary prevention of vascular events include best medical treatment (BMT), changes in lifestyle, most importantly smoking cessation and increased physical exercise, and in appropriate cases surgery. A person-centred and health promotion approach might facilitate breaking barriers to lifestyle changes and increasing adherence to secondary prevention therapy. The FASTIC study aims to evaluate a nurse-led, person-centred, health-promoting follow-up programme compared with standard follow-up by a vascular surgeon after surgical treatment for IC.

Methods

The FASTIC-study is a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial. Patients will be recruited from two hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden after surgical treatment of IC through open and/or endovascular revascularisation and will be randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group is offered a nurse-led, person-centred, health-promoting programme, which includes two telephone calls and three visits to a vascular nurse the first year after surgical treatment. The control group is offered standard care, which consists of a visit to a vascular surgeon 4–8 weeks after surgery and a visit to the outpatient clinic 1 year after surgical treatment. The primary outcome is adherence to BMT 1 year after surgical treatment and will be measured using The Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry. Clinical assessments, biomarkers, and questionnaires will be used to evaluate several secondary outcomes, such as predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, health-related quality of life, and patients’ perceptions of care quality.

Discussion

The FASTIC study will provide important information about interventions aimed at improving adherence to medication, which is an unexplored field among patients with IC. The study will also contribute to knowledge on how to implement person-centred care in a clinical context.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT03283358, registration date 06/13/2016.

Drug use and antiretroviral therapy (ART) interactions: a qualitative study to explore the knowledge, beliefs, adherence, and quality of life of people living with HIV taking ART and illicit drugs

Background

To explore the use of illicit drugs by people living with HIV (PLHIV) taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and their relationship with variables relevant to the management of HIV infection, such as knowledge and beliefs about drug–drug interactions (DDIs), ART adherence, quality of life (QoL), and use of health-care resources.

Methods

21 PLHIV in Spain who concomitantly took illicit drugs and ART participated in this qualitative study. Eight experts collaborated in the design of the semi-structured interview guide which explored the following topics: illicit drug use, knowledge and beliefs about DDIs and their impact on ART adherence, the effects of using illicit drugs on health, QoL, and use of health-care resources. Four of those experts, who were PLHIV and members of the executive boards of non-government organizations (NGOs) from four Spanish regions, recruited the participants through their NGOs and carried out the face-to-face interviews. Content analysis of the qualitative data was conducted with the support of the MAXQDA 12 program.

Results

Participants were mainly men (85.7%) and only 14.3% of them were heterosexual. Content analysis showed that the most frequently consumed illicit drugs were poppers, cocaine, and cannabis. Participants were polydrug users and this was, in many cases, prior to HIV diagnosis. Most participants presented theoretical potential moderate DDIs that would require monitoring. More than three quarters of them were not aware of these DDIs. Participants reported interactive toxicity beliefs that lead to intentional nonadherence behaviors. In most cases (n = 17), the participant’s doctor knew about their drug use, however only six of them had had an open dialogue with their physician about it. Illicit drug use led to some health-related problems, mainly sexually transmitted infections. A positive QoL’s self-perception was found among several participants that used recreational illicit drugs.

Conclusions

Adequate information about DDIs and clues about how to manage ART when PLHIV are using illicit drugs could reduce the negative effects of such interactions and improve ART adherence and QoL.

What do HIV-positive drug users' experiences tell us about their antiretroviral medication-taking? An international integrated literature review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

HIV-positive drug users' poor adherence to antiretroviral regimens can pose a significant and negative impact on individual and global health. This review aims to identify knowledge gaps and inconsistencies within the current evidence base and to measure HIV-positive drug users' adherence rates and the factors that influence their adherence.

METHODS

A search of quantitative and qualitative studies in relation to HIV-positive drug users' adherence to antiretroviral treatment was performed using five databases: Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstract (ASSIA), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Embase and PsycINFO (Ovid interface). Relevant studies were retrieved based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria stated in the review. Findings were compared, contrasted and synthesized to provide a coherent account of HIV-positive drug users' adherence rates and the factors that influence their adherence.

RESULTS

The proportion of HIV-positive drug users who achieved ≥ 95% adherence across the studies varied widely, from 19.3 to 83.9%. Adherence rates changed over the course of HIV treatment. The factors that influenced adherence were reported as follows: stigmatization, motivation, active drug use, accessibility and conditionality of HIV and addiction care, side effects and complexity of treatment regimens, forgetfulness and non-incorporation of dosing times into daily schedules.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-positive drug users' medication-taking is a dynamic social process that requires health professionals to assess adherence to HIV treatment on a regular basis.

Ethnopharmacological Applications Targeting Alcohol Abuse: Overview and Outlook

Excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of several diseases and thus is of a major concern for society. Worldwide alcohol consumption has increased by many folds over the past decades. This urgently calls for intervention and relapse counteract measures. Modern pharmacological solutions induce complete alcohol self-restraint and prevent relapse, but they have many side effects. Natural products are most promising as they cause fewer adverse effects. Here we discuss in detail the medicinal plants used in various traditional/folklore medicine systems for targeting alcohol abuse. We also comprehensively describe preclinical and clinical studies done on some of these plants along with the possible mechanisms of action.

Stigmatisation of alcohol use among people receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection, Cape Town, South Africa

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively treats HIV infection, with improved longevity and quality of life among people living with HIV. Alcohol use, however, remains a robust barrier to ART. This study, for the first time, examined the effects of the stigmatisation of alcohol use on ART adherence. Patients receiving ART in Cape Town, South Africa who currently drink alcohol (N = 187) and those who do not drink alcohol (N = 106) completed measures of alcohol use, alcohol-ART adherence, and alcohol-ART stigma. Participants also provided permission to access their most recent HIV viral load from clinic medical records. Results of a mediation model demonstrated significant detrimental effects of alcohol use on ART adherence. In addition, the indirect effects of alcohol use on ART adherence through alcohol-ART stigma was also significant, indicating that alcohol-ART stigma at least in part mediates the association between alcohol use and ART adherence. The same pattern of results was observed in relation to HIV viral load obtained from medical records. Interventions designed to address alcohol use as a barrier to ART adherence should incorporate alcohol-ART stigma as a barrier to adherence as well as a barrier to participating in adherence interventions.

Alcohol-related beliefs and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa

The life-saving effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in treating HIV infection are compromised by alcohol use. A growing body of research shows that both unintentional (e.g., memory lapses) and intentional (e.g., forgoing ART to avoid mixing with alcohol) contribute to ART non-adherence. Beliefs that it is harmful to mix alcohol with ART (alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs) contribute to intentional non-adherence, but their role in overall adherence is not clear. This study conducted a clinic-based survey with 100 men and 193 women (mean age = 36) to examine the prevalence of alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and whether they contribute to treatment non-adherence in South Africa. One in three (36%, n = 106) participants reported no current alcohol use and 64% (n = 187) reported current alcohol use. The majority of participants, including current alcohol drinkers, endorsed beliefs that it is harmful to mix ART and alcohol, with 57% who currently drink reporting that they forgo taking ART when they are drinking. Participants reported being warned not to mix alcohol and ART from family, friends, and health care providers. In addition, 62% of participants who do not drink, as well as 36% of those who do drink, tell others not to mix alcohol and ART. Mediation modelling found that alcohol use directly predicts ART adherence, and that this relationship is partially mediated by alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs. Health care providers can play a critical role in disputing interactive toxicity beliefs and encouraging patients to take ART even when they are drinking.

Relationship Stigma and HIV Risk Behavior Among Cisgender Men Partnered with Transgender Women: The Moderating Role of Sexual Identity

Cisgender men partnered with transgender women are an understudied and hard to engage population in HIV prevention efforts. Relationship stigma-the anticipation of negative treatment based on having a relationship with a member of a stigmatized group-has been linked to adverse health behaviors, but it remains unclear whether different sources of relationship stigma (i.e., family, friends, and the general public) are associated with HIV risk behaviors and whether these associations may vary by men's sexual identities (e.g., gay, bisexual, and heterosexual). The current study examined associations between relationship stigma and HIV risk behaviors and whether these associations were moderated by sexual identity. We recruited a convenience sample of 185 cisgender men in primary partnerships with transgender women to participate in a one-time survey. Gay identified men reported greater levels of relationship stigma from the general public compared with heterosexually identified men. In multivariable models, higher levels of relationship stigma from the public were associated with increased odds of engaging in drug use prior to having condomless sex and receiving an STI diagnosis in the last 30 days. There were significant interaction effects such that higher levels of relationship stigma from the public were associated with both indicators of HIV risk for gay identified men but not for heterosexually identified men. Findings support the importance of HIV prevention approaches accounting for relationship stigma from the general public and the diverse sexual identities of men partnered with transgender women when seeking to increase linkage to and engagement in HIV prevention services, including biomedical prevention strategies.

Substance Use Stigma and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among a Drug-Using Population Living with HIV

Among people living with HIV (PLWH), HIV-related stigma predicts nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART); however, the role of stigma associated with drug use is largely unknown. We examined the association between substance use (SU) stigma and optimal ART adherence in a sample of 172 self-reported HIV-infected drug users. Participants completed surveys on SU, stigma, and ART adherence. The three substance classes with the greatest number of participants exhibiting moderate/high-risk scores were for cocaine/crack cocaine (66.28%), cannabis (64.53%), and hazardous alcohol consumption (65.70%). Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to investigate associations between levels of SU stigma and optimal ART adherence, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, severity of illicit drug use (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test) and alcohol use severity (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C), HIV-related stigma, and social support. The odds of optimal adherence among participants experiencing moderate [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.36, p = 0.039] and very high (AOR = 0.25, p = 0.010) levels of anticipated SU stigma were significantly lower than participants experiencing low levels of anticipated SU stigma. No other stigma subscales were significant predictors of ART adherence. Interventions aiming to improve ART adherence among drug-using PLWH need to address anticipated SU stigma.

Alcohol-related intentional nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV, Cape Town, South Africa

Alcohol use may have significant negative impacts on individuals' ability to remain adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and may also yield other negative psychosocial, health-related, and behavioral outcomes. In addition, false beliefs about the consequences of mixing alcohol with ART use may cause individuals to avoid taking ART when drinking (alcohol-related ART avoidance). Although research conducted in the U.S. and Europe has reported on alcohol-ART avoidance, the current study presents among the first quantitative evidence of alcohol-related intentional ART nonadherence in South Africa. Patients receiving ART from a community clinic in Cape Town (N = 441) completed anonymous surveys of alcohol use, ART adherence, and alcohol-ART avoidance. Results showed that 292 (66%) participants reported current alcohol use; 25% who use alcohol believed that people who drink should stop taking ART when they are drinking and 24% stop their own ART when drinking. Alcohol-ART avoidance mediated the association between alcohol use and ART adherence. Results were robust when controlling for participant age, gender, current care status, and first- versus second-line ART. We found alcohol-ART avoidance may threaten successful ART in South Africa. Corrective messages that take a harm reduction approach to maximize ART adherence when drinking should be implemented in existing clinical services.

Persons living with HIV with advanced HIV disease: need for novel care models

INTRODUCTION

Despite increasing focus on test and treat strategies for people living with HIV (PLHIV), many continue to enrol late in care and initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) when they have advanced HIV disease.

METHODS

We analyzed PLHIV ≥15 years of age starting ART in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania from 2005 to 2015 based on CD4+ groups at ART initiation (≥200, 100 to 199, 50 to 99 and <50 cells/mm3 ) to examine attrition (loss to follow-up (LTF) and death) using Kaplan-Meier estimators and Cox proportional hazards models. LTF was defined as no clinic visit >6 months; deaths were ascertained from medical records.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 305,443 PLHIV were included in the analysis: 118,580 (38.8%) CD4+ ≥200, 91,788 (30.1%) CD4+ 100 to 199, 44,029 (14.4%) CD4+ 50 to 99 and 51,046 (16.7%) CD4+ <50 cells/mm3 . At 12 months after ART initiation, attrition for those with CD4+ ≥200, 100 to 199, 50 to 99 and <50 cells/mm3 was 21.3% (95% CI 21.1 to 21.6), 21.8% (95% CI 21.6 to 22.1), 27.3% (95% CI 26.9 to 27.7) and 33.6% (95% CI 33.2 to 34.0) respectively. In multivariable models, compared to PLHIV with CD4+ ≥200 cells/mm3 , those with CD4+ 50 to 99 cells/mm3 had 29% increased risk of attrition (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.29, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.32) and those with <50 cells/mm3 had 56% increased risk of attrition (AHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.53 to 1.58). Men had higher attrition compared to women across all CD4+ groups and overall were 28% more likely to experience attrition (AHR 1.28, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.29). Even after ART initiation, PLHIV with advanced disease had notably inferior outcomes with substantial gradient within the low CD4+ strata highlighting the need for targeted interventions for these populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater efforts, including the identification of effective differentiated service delivery models, are needed to ensure that all PLHIV starting treatment can garner the benefits from ART and achieve favourable outcomes.

Stigma management intervention to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence: Phase-I test of concept trial, Cape Town South Africa

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV infection from a universally fatal disease to a medically manageable chronic illness. We conducted a Phase-I test of concept intervention trial to examine feasibility and potential efficacy of behavioural self-regulation counselling designed to improve care retention and cART adherence. The intervention was culturally adapted from client-centered evidence-based interventions that are grounded in behavioural self-regulation theory and available in the US. The intervention adaptation included enhancements to directly address HIV stigma and alcohol-related sources of nonadherence. Fifty patients receiving cART in Cape Town, South Africa were randomised to receive either: (a) five weekly cellphone-delivered sessions of stigma and alcohol-enhanced behavioural self-regulation counselling or (b) a contact matched control condition. Participants were baseline assessed and followed for two weeks post-intervention, with 94% of participants retained throughout the study. Participants receiving the intervention significantly improved cART adherence from baseline-to-follow up and improvement was significantly greater than the control condition. Behaviours related to stigma and alcohol use that impede cART adherence were significantly reduced, and there was uptake of adherence improvement strategies. The current study supports the potential efficacy of relatively brief behavioural self-regulation counselling delivered by cellphone in a context of differentiated care in South Africa.

Perceived sensitivity to medicines, alcohol interactive toxicity beliefs, and medication adherence among people living with HIV who drink alcohol

Erroneous beliefs that it is toxic to drink alcohol while taking antiretroviral therapies (ART) used for treating HIV infection, known as alcohol interactive toxicity beliefs, may at least in part account for ART nonadherence among alcohol drinkers. This study was conducted to test a conceptual framework to explain the effects of interactive toxicity beliefs on ART adherence. Computerized surveys were administered to 124 participants receiving HIV care in the southeastern US. Serial mediation model with perceived sensitivity to medicines predicting HIV viral load through three mediating variables: alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs, alcohol-ART avoidance behaviors, and ART adherence. HIV viral load extracted from medical records. Perceived sensitivity to medicines predicted HIV viral load; greater perceptions of medication sensitivity predicted lower HIV viral loads. In addition, there was a significant indirect effect of the serial chain of interactive toxicity beliefs → avoidance behaviors → ART adherence, indicating partial mediation of the relationship between perceived sensitivity to medicines and higher HIV viral load. Perceived sensitivity to medicines provides a conceptual basis for the effects of alcohol-medication interactive toxicity beliefs on ART adherence. Interactive toxicity beliefs are modifiable and can be altered to prevent intentional ART nonadherence.

Psychiatric Illness, Substance Use, and Viral Suppression Among HIV-Positive Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles

For individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), viral suppression positively affects quality and length of life and reduces risks for HIV transmission. Men of color who have sex with men (MoCSM) who have been diagnosed with HIV have disproportionately low rates of viral suppression, with concomitant increases in incidence. We identified specific social, structural, and psychiatric factors associated with viral suppression among a sample of 155 HIV-positive MoCSM. Cigarette smoking and biological markers of recent drug use were significantly associated with detectable viral load. In contrast, individuals reporting a history of psychiatric illness during medical examination were more likely to be virally suppressed. Further analyses demonstrated that psychiatric illness may affect virologic outcomes through increased probability of being prescribed HIV medications. Alternatively, cigarette smoking and drug use appear to negatively affect subsequent HIV Care Continuum milestones such as medication adherence. Findings provide support for comprehensive intervention programs that emphasize prevention and treatment of cigarette, methamphetamine, and other drug use, and promote improved connection to psychiatric care. Continual achievement of this goal may be a crucial step to increase rates of viral suppression and slow HIV incidence in communities of MoCSM in Los Angeles and other urban areas.

A New Era of HIV Risk: It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know (and How Infectious)

HIV is transmitted in social and sexual relationships, and HIV transmission risks, as well as protective actions, are evolving as HIV epidemics unfold. The current focus of HIV prevention is centered on antiretroviral medications used to reduce HIV infectiousness in persons already infected with HIV [treatment as prevention (TasP)]. The same medications used to treat infected persons can also be used by uninfected persons as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the infectivity of HIV. Both PrEP and TasP are effective when adherence is high and individuals do not have co-occurring sexually transmitted infections. HIV prevention is most effective and efficient when delivered within sexual networks with high HIV prevalence. Specific network characteristics are recognized as important facilitators of HIV transmission; these characteristics include the degree of similarity among network members (homophily), gender role norms, and belief systems. Since 2011, HIV risk has been redefined based on infectiousness and infectivity, ushering in a new era of HIV prevention with the potential to end HIV epidemics.

Prevalence and Associations of Illicit Drug and Polydrug Use in People Living with HIV in Vienna

We aimed to determine the prevalence of drug and polydrug use in people living with HIV in Austria for the first time for which a two center cross-sectional study was performed. Participants were recruited from consecutive patients during their regularly scheduled visits. In total 438 participants were included in the analysis. For this study we used paper-pencil and online-based questionnaires. The prevalence of illicit drug use was 60.5%; with cannabis use at 31.5%, nitrates at 31.5%, sildenafil/tadalafil at 24% and cocaine at 14%, being the most used substances. Use of more than one substance (polydrug) in drug users was 69.4% or 42.0% in the total study population. Younger age, male gender, and living in an urban area were associated with drug use. Moreover, drug use during clubbing and sex, HIV therapy non-adherence and younger age were associated with polydrug use. Drug users reported condomless sex in 42.4% and performing sexual acts they would not do sober in 44.1%. Results indicate a high prevalence of illicit drug use in PLWHIV in Austria. New research focusing on illicit drug use in PLWHIV should focus on the use of substances during sex and surrounding practices.

Perceptions of alcohol use in the context of HIV treatment: a qualitative study

Background

Alcohol use is associated with poor HIV treatment outcomes. This study aimed to understand patients’ perceptions of the impact of alcohol use in the context of HIV care.

Methods

The study design was a descriptive qualitative study of HIV positive individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment. The study involved four focus group discussions with male and female participants at a tertiary center, city clinic, and rural church. We employed convenience sampling and invited patients coming for their routine visits and medication refills to participate.

Results

Participants had an awareness of both the direct and indirect effects of alcohol use. The direct effects related to the incompatibility of HIV medication and alcohol. The indirect effects related to the negative impact of alcohol on treatment adherence. Participants proffered reasons why HIV infected individuals on HIV treatment drink and felt that patients had to make a deliberate choice to stop drinking. Participants displayed some knowledge of interventions for drinking cessation and highlighted the use of pharmacological interventions to stop drinking. Participants indicated that they preferred HIV counselors to provide counseling services in view of the existing relationships that patients had with counselors.

Conclusion

People living with HIV have adequate knowledge of the effects of alcohol use in the context of HIV treatment. Stigma and the time taken to engage in an alcohol use intervention appeared to be the main impediments to uptake. The current model of HIV treatment, based on trust with the HIV care team, and maintenance of this trust, could bolster the uptake of an intervention. Involvement of HIV patients in their treatment is necessary to improve treatment outcomes in the context of alcohol use.

Association of Cannabis, Stimulant, and Alcohol use with Mortality Prognosis Among HIV-Infected Men

Questionnaires over a 9-year study period (2002-2010) were used to characterize cannabis, stimulant, and alcohol use among 3099 HIV-infected men participating in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) to determine whether use of these substances is associated with changes in the VACS Index, a validated prognostic indicator for all-cause mortality. At baseline, 18% of participants reported no substance use in the past year, 24% lower risk alcohol use only, 18% unhealthy alcohol use only, 15% cannabis use (with or without alcohol), and 24% stimulant use (with or without alcohol or cannabis). In adjusted longitudinal analyses, cannabis use [β = -0.97 (95% CI -1.93, 0.00), p = 0.048] was not associated with mortality risk, while stimulant use [1.08 (0.16, 2.00), p = 0.021] was associated with an increased mortality risk, compared to lower risk alcohol use. Our findings show no evidence of a negative effect of cannabis use on mortality risk, while stimulant use was associated with increased mortality risk among HIV-infected men. Interventions to reduce stimulant use in this patient population may reduce mortality.

Transgender women and HIV-related health disparities: falling off the HIV treatment cascade

Background Transgender women living with HIV infection experience poorer health outcomes across the HIV continuum of care. While disparities are well established, their underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study examined the HIV continuum of care (also known as the HIV treatment cascade), including linkage and engagement in care and health status among transgender women and cisgender women and cisgender men living with HIV.

METHOD

Case-control matching was applied to a cohort of 1101 people living with HIV; 70 transgender women living with HIV were matched on years since testing HIV positive with cisgender women and cisgender men. Participants provided measures indicative of the HIV treatment cascade that included linkage and engagement in care, receiving and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and HIV viral suppression. Common correlates of HIV-related health status: depression symptoms, HIV-related stress, alcohol and drug use, healthcare conspiracy beliefs, medical mistrust, emotional social support and tangible social support, were also assessed.

RESULTS

Transgender women were significantly less likely to receive ART, were less adherent to ART and had poorer HIV viral suppression than cisgender persons. Multivariable models demonstrated that health disparities were predicted by transgender women having poorer tangible social support over and above the other correlates of health outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Tangible support is amenable by interventions such as building and strengthening supportive networks and paraprofessional services. Socially supportive interventions should be considered critical in efforts to decrease HIV health disparities among transgender women.

Alcohol-antiretroviral interactive toxicity beliefs as a potential barrier to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men

INTRODUCTION

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) offers as much as 90% protection against HIV transmission. However, the effectiveness of PrEP depends on uptake and adherence to even intermittent dosing. Along with intoxication leading to unintentional non-adherence, believing that alcohol mixed with pharmaceuticals is harmful (i.e., interactive toxicity beliefs) may lead to poor uptake and intentional non-adherence.

METHODS

HIV-negative sexually active men who have sex with men (N = 272) at a large Gay Pride event in Atlanta, GA, completed anonymous surveys of demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, alcohol use and PrEP-related alcohol interactive toxicity beliefs.

RESULTS

A total of 118 (43%) men surveyed had two or more male sex partners and condomless anal sex in the previous six months. Alcohol use was reported by over 90% of men and it was common for participants to believe that mixing alcohol and antiretrovirals is toxic; 75% endorsed at least one interactive toxicity belief. Among the 118 men who had engaged in condomless anal sex and had multiple sex partners, one in three stated that they were not interested in PrEP and men not interested in PrEP were significantly more likely to binge drink and hold interactive toxicity beliefs.

CONCLUSIONS

These results mirror studies that find interactive toxicity beliefs are a potent predictor of intentional antiretroviral non-adherence among people living with HIV and suggest interactive toxicity beliefs may impede PrEP uptake and adherence. Messages to increase PrEP awareness and adherence may also take steps to counter erroneous beliefs about mixing alcohol with antiretrovirals in the context of PrEP.

Using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to optimize an HIV care continuum intervention for vulnerable populations: a study protocol

BACKGROUND

More than half of persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States are insufficiently engaged in HIV primary care and not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), mainly African Americans/Blacks and Hispanics. In the proposed project, a potent and innovative research methodology, the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), will be employed to develop a highly efficacious, efficient, scalable, and cost-effective intervention to increase engagement along the HIV care continuum. Whereas randomized controlled trials are valuable for evaluating the efficacy of multi-component interventions as a package, they are not designed to evaluate which specific components contribute to efficacy. MOST, a pioneering, engineering-inspired framework, addresses this problem through highly efficient randomized experimentation to assess the performance of individual intervention components and their interactions. We propose to use MOST to engineer an intervention to increase engagement along the HIV care continuum for African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH not well engaged in care and not taking ART. Further, the intervention will be optimized for cost-effectiveness. A similar set of multi-level factors impede both HIV care and ART initiation for African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH, primary among them individual- (e.g., substance use, distrust, fear), social- (e.g., stigma), and structural-level barriers (e.g., difficulties accessing ancillary services). Guided by a multi-level social cognitive theory, and using the motivational interviewing approach, the study will evaluate five distinct culturally based intervention components (i.e., counseling sessions, pre-adherence preparation, support groups, peer mentorship, and patient navigation), each designed to address a specific barrier to HIV care and ART initiation. These components are well-grounded in the empirical literature and were found acceptable, feasible, and promising with respect to efficacy in a preliminary study.

METHODS/DESIGN

Study aims are: 1) using a highly efficient fractional factorial experimental design, identify which of five intervention components contribute meaningfully to improvement in HIV viral suppression, and secondary outcomes of ART adherence and engagement in HIV primary care; 2) identify mediators and moderators of intervention component efficacy; and 3) using a mathematical modeling approach, build the most cost-effective and efficient intervention package from the efficacious components. A heterogeneous sample of African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH (with respect to age, substance use, and sexual minority status) will be recruited with a proven hybrid sampling method using targeted sampling in community settings and peer recruitment (N = 512).

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to apply the MOST framework in the field of HIV prevention and treatment. This innovative study will produce a culturally based HIV care continuum intervention for the nation's most vulnerable PLWH, optimized for cost-effectiveness, and with exceptional levels of efficacy, efficiency, and scalability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02801747 , Registered June 8, 2016.

Antiretroviral therapy adherence and self-efficacy among people living with HIV and a history of drug use in Vietnam

People living with HIV with a history of drug use face additional psychosocial challenges that could compromise their adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study examined ART treatment adherence and adherence self-efficacy among people living with HIV with a history of drug use in Vietnam. We used cross-sectional baseline data collected between October 2014 and February 2015 from a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam. Of the 900 persons with a history of drug use in the trial, a sample of 109 people living with HIV currently on ART were included in the study. The vast majority (92%) of the participants reported not missing any medications in the past 30 days. Multiple regression results indicated that social support was positively associated with adherence self-efficacy (β = 0.420, P < 0.001) and general adherence to ART (β = 0.201, P = 0.0368). General adherence to ART was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = -0.188, P = 0.046) and current heroin use (β = -0.196, P = 0.042). These findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health and social challenges facing people living with HIV with a history of drug use to promote ART treatment adherence. Clinical management of HIV should identify and address concurrent substance use behaviors to maximize adherence and treatment outcomes.

Prevalence and clinical impact of recreational drug consumption in people living with HIV on treatment: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Drug interactions, poor adherence to medication and high-risk sexual behaviour may occur in individuals with HIV using recreational drugs. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence of recreational drugs use and to explore its clinical impact in HIV patients on treatment.

METHODS

Observational, cross sectional, study conducted in a 700 bed university hospital, Barcelona, Spain. A total of 208 adults living with HIV on treatment were included. A questionnaire was administered by clinical pharmacists, including evaluation of sociodemographic variables, past 12-month drug consumption, adherence to antiretrovirals (Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire) and high-risk sexual behaviour (condomless sex/multiple partners). Additional data were obtained from clinical records. Recreational drug-antiretroviral interactions were checked in reference databases. Prevalence was calculated for 5% precision and 95% CI. Crude and adjusted binary logistic regressions were performed to identify associations between recreational drug use and adherence problems, and between recreational drug use and high-risk sexual behaviour.

RESULTS

From the overall sample, 92 participants (44.2%) consumed recreational drugs over the past 1 year. Of these, 44 (48.8%) had used different types of recreational drugs in this period. We detected 11 recreational substances, including sildenafil and nitrites. The most consumed drugs were: cannabis (68.5%), cocaine (45.5%), nitrites (31.5%), sildenafil (28.3) and ecstasy (19.6%). Relevant interactions occurred in 46 (50%) of the individuals consuming drugs. Recreational drug consumption was found to be related to adherence problems with antiretrovirals (OR: 2.51 (95% CI 1.32 to 4.77) p=0.005) and high-risk sexual behaviour (OR: 2.81 (95% CI 1.47 to 5.39) p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Recreational drugs are frequently used by HIV patients on treatment. Classical drugs and new substances consumed in sexual context are usual. Recreational drug consumption interferes with several clinical outcomes, including potentially relevant interactions between drugs and antiretrovirals, adherence problems and high-risk sexual behaviour. Thus, there is the urgent need of implementing patient-centred care involving recreational drug consumption.

HIV Infects Bronchial Epithelium and Suppresses Components of the Mucociliary Clearance Apparatus

Recurrent lung infections and pneumonia are emerging as significant comorbidities in the HIV-infected population in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). HIV infection has been reported to suppress nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC). Since the primary components driving nasal MCC and bronchial MCC are identical, it is possible that bronchial MCC is affected as well. Effective MCC requires optimal ciliary beating which depends on the maintenance of the airway surface liquid (ASL), a function of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity and the integrity of the signaling mechanism that regulates ciliary beating and fluid secretion. Impairment of either component of the MCC apparatus can compromise its efficacy and promote microbial colonization. We demonstrate that primary bronchial epithelium expresses HIV receptor CD4 and co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 and can be infected by both R5 and X4 tropic strains of HIV. We show that HIV Tat suppresses CFTR biogenesis and function in primary bronchial epithelial cells by a pathway involving TGF-β signaling. HIV infection also interferes with bronchial epithelial cell differentiation and suppresses ciliogenesis. These findings suggest that HIV infection suppresses tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance and this may predispose HIV-infected patients to recurrent lung infections, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

Highly specific reasons for nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy: results from the German adherence study

BACKGROUND

Reasons for and frequency of nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may have changed due to pharmacological improvements. In addition, the importance of known non-pharmacologic reasons for nonadherence is unclear.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional, noninterventional, multicenter study to identify current reasons for nonadherence. Patients were categorized by physicians into the following adherence groups: good, unstable, or poor adherence. Co-variables of interest included age, sex, time since HIV diagnosis, ART duration, current ART regimen, HIV transmission route, comorbidity, HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL), and CD4 cell count. Patients self-reported the number of missed doses and provided their specific reasons for nonadherent behavior. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's extended exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Our study assessed 215 participants with good (n=162), unstable (n=36), and poor adherence (n=17). Compared to patients with good adherence, patients with unstable and poor adherence reported more often to have missed at least one dose during the last week (good 11% vs unstable 47% vs poor 63%, p<0.001). Physicians' adherence assessment was concordant with patients' self-reports of missed doses during the last week (no vs one or more) in 81% cases. Similarly, we found a strong association of physicians' assessment with viral suppression. Logistic regression analysis showed that "reduced adherence" - defined as unstable or poor - was significantly associated with patients <30 years old, intravenous drug use, history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and psychiatric disorders (p<0.05). Univariate analyses showed that specific reasons, such as questioning the efficacy/dosing of ART, HIV stigma, interactive toxicity beliefs regarding alcohol and/or party drugs, and dissatisfaction with regimen complexity, correlated with unstable or poor adherence (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Identification of factors associated with poor adherence helps in identifying patients with a higher risk for nonadherence. Reasons for nonadherence should be directly addressed in every patient, because they are common and constitute possible adherence intervention points.

Comparison of AUDIT-C collected via electronic medical record and self-administered research survey in HIV infected and uninfected patients

BACKGROUND

Using electronic medical record (EMR) data for clinical decisions, quality improvement, and research is common. While unhealthy alcohol use is particularly risky among HIV infected individuals (HIV+), the validity of EMR data for identifying unhealthy alcohol use among HIV+ is unclear. Among HIV+ and uninfected, we: (1) assess agreement of EMR and research AUDIT-C at validated cutoffs for unhealthy alcohol use; (2) explore EMR cutoffs that maximize agreement; and (3) assess subpopulation variation in agreement.

METHODS

Using data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), EMR AUDIT-C cutoffs of 2+, 3+, and 4+ for men (2+ and 3+ for women) were compared to research AUDIT-C 4+ for men (3+ for women). Agreement was compared by demographics, HIV, hepatitis C infection, and alcohol related diagnosis.

RESULTS

Among 1082 HIV+ and 1160 uninfected men, 14% and 22% had an EMR and research AUDIT-C 4+, respectively. Among 32 HIV+ and 115 uninfected women, 9% and 14% had an EMR and research AUDIT-C 3+. For men, EMR agreement with the research AUDIT-C 4+ was highest at a cutoff of 3+ (kappa=0.49). For women, EMR agreement with AUDIT-C 3+ was highest at a cutoff of 2+ (kappa=0.46). Moderate agreement was consistent across subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

EMR AUDIT-C underestimates unhealthy alcohol use compared to research AUDIT-C in both HIV+ and uninfected individuals. Methods for improving quality of clinical screening may be in need of investigation. Researchers and clinicians may consider alternative EMR cutoffs that maximize agreement given limitations of clinical screening.

Forget about forgetting: structural barriers and severe non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy

HIV infection is now clinically manageable with antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, a significant number of people with HIV do not benefit from ART because of non-adherence. This study examined the use of adherence strategies and barriers to adherence among persons at substantial risk for developing resistant virus (less than 75% adherent). People living with HIV (n = 556) who were less than 95% adherent to ART completed computerized interviews, were screened for active drug use, provided medical records for HIV viral load, and completed unannounced pill counts to monitor ART adherence and an assessment of adherence barriers. Based on pill counts, participants were defined as severely non-adherent (≤75% medications taken) and moderately non-adherent (>75% and <95% adherent). Results showed a broad array of memory devices were used to no avail across non-adherence groups. Individuals who were severely non-adherent were significantly more likely to attribute missing medications due to substance use and structural barriers, including running out of medications, inability to get to pharmacy, and inability to afford medications. Results suggest that interventions focused on memory lapses will be insufficient and should rather concentrate on substance use treatment and providing case management to resolve structural barriers to adherence.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smartphone App for Daily Reports of Substance Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among HIV-Infected Adults

While substance use is one of the most consistent predictors of poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), few studies among people living with HIV (PLH) have utilized mobile phone-based assessment of these health behaviors. PLH were recruited from primary care clinics to report ART and substance use using a smartphone application (app) for 14 consecutive days. The app's feasibility as a data collection tool was evaluated quantitatively via surveys and qualitatively via in-depth interviews to assess daily report completion, compliance, and study satisfaction. Overall, 26 participants (M = 49.5 years, 76% male) completed 95.3% of time-based daily reports. Participants reported high satisfaction with the app and expressed future interest in using smartphones to report daily behaviors. High completion rates and participant acceptability suggest that smartphones are a feasible, acceptable method for collecting substance use and ART data among PLH. Potential areas of concern such as sufficient training and assistance for those with limited smartphone experience should be considered for future app-based research studies among PLH.

Alcohol-antiretroviral therapy interactive toxicity beliefs and daily medication adherence and alcohol use among people living with HIV

Alcohol-antiretroviral therapy (ART) interactive toxicity beliefs reflect perceived adverse outcomes of mixing alcohol and ART. Previous research has shown a significant relationship between alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and ART non-adherence, over and above other correlates of non-adherence such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)symptoms and frequency of alcohol use. Most past studies have collected data over extended periods and have not determined if alcohol use and missed medications occur at the day-level among people holding interactive toxicity beliefs. Previous daily analyses, however, have been limited by self-reported adherence and relatively short periods of observation. To address these gaps in the literature, men and women living with HIV in Atlanta, GA, were enrolled in a 45-day observational cohort study. Daily alcohol use was collected using two-way interactive text message surveys and daily adherence was collected via the Wisepill device. Fifty-seven participants completed a measure of alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and contributed 2565 days of daily data. Participants who endorsed high levels of interactive toxicity beliefs had significantly more days when they missed doses of medication. Alcohol-antiretroviral toxicity beliefs predicted missing doses of medication on days when participants were drinking and on days when they were not drinking. Multilevel multivariate regressions showed that these toxicity beliefs predicted daily missed doses of medication over and above quantity of alcohol consumed, depression and general medication concerns. This study replicates and extends previous literature and indicates the necessity of addressing alcohol-ART toxicity beliefs within adherence interventions.