A multilevel examination of sleep, depression, and quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS

State of mental health, sleep status, and the interaction with health-related quality of life in HIV-infected Chinese patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To describe how mental health and sleep status influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to apply targeted interventions to improve the HRQOL.

METHODS

A web-based online questionnaire survey was administered. Descriptive analysis was used to depict the mental health and sleep status. Correlation analysis and the structural equation model (SEM) method were used to analyze the influence of mental health and sleep status on HRQOL in PLWHA.

RESULTS

After excluding 24 unqualified questionnaires, a total of 490 participants in this survey were included in the statistical analysis. Of the participants, 66.1% and 55.1% reported mild or worse symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Overall, 70.0% had varying degrees of sleep problems. Correlation analysis showed that anxiety had the strongest correlation with sleep disturbances and sleep quality (R = 0.588 and 0.551, respectively), while depression had the strongest correlation with the HRQOL psychological and physical domains (R = - 0.759 and - 0.682, respectively). SEM analysis showed that depression, sleep quality, and psychological domains had the greatest item load on mental health, sleep status, and HRQOL (093, 0.82, and 0.89, respectively). Mental health had a more significant influence than sleep status on HRQOL, as indicated by factor loading (- 0.75 and - 0.15, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

There were more severe mental health and sleep problems among PLWHA during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus, mental health intervention, especially to relieve depression symptoms, may be the most important approach to improve the HRQOL among PLWHA.

Sleep quality mediates the effect of medical social support on depression symptoms in patients with HIV/AIDS

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of our study is to further understanding of the depression symptoms of HIV/AIDS patients in Guilin, Guangxi via exploring whether there is a mediating effect of sleep quality on medical-social support and depression symptoms and therefore provide a theoretical basis for application of medical-social support to alleviate depression symptoms of HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODS

A convenience sampling method was used to select 200 HIV/AIDS patients for the study. Depression symptoms, sleep quality, and medical-social support of the study participants were investigated using The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), respectively. Predictors of depression symptoms were explored by multiple linear regression, and Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between sleep quality, medical-social support, and depression symptoms. Mediating effect analysis was performed by nonparametric Bootstrap test.

RESULTS

In this study, the incidence of depression symptoms was 54.4%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that leanness (β = 0.161, P = 0.008), obesity (β = 0.186, P = 0.002), sleep quality score > 7 (β = 0.331, P < 0.001), and medical-social support score > 56 (β = -0.247, P < 0.001) could influence depression symptoms of HIV and Pearson's correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a two-way correlation between sleep quality, medical social support and depression symptoms (P < 0.05). In addition, Bootstrap tests showed that medical-social support might affect depression symptoms not only directly but also indirectly through the mediating effect of sleep quality with the direct and mediating effects accounting for 77.25% and 22.75% of the total effect, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of depression symptoms is high among HIV/AIDS patients in Guilin City. The depressive symptoms of PLWHs(people living with HIV) are related to their sleep quality and medical-social support, and sleep quality partially mediates the relationship between medical-social support and depression symptoms. Therefore, interventions to improve sleep quality and medical-social support have the potential to allay the depression symptoms of HIV/AIDS patients.

Life expectancy and mental related burden of disease among people living with HIV/AIDS

Mental health problems leads to serious disease burden among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The study aimed at measuring the mental disorders-caused burden of disease based on PLHIV in mainland China. The data used was from the national HIV/AIDS case reporting system, life expectancy (LE) and LE-eliminated suicide were evaluated by the life-table method. The total YLLs and YLLs caused by suicide in each age group were calculated. The disability weights were estimated by the scale of depression symptoms (CES-D) from the multi-center cross-sectional survey, then calculated the corresponding YLDs as a burden of mental illness among PLHIV. Results showed that the LE had been prolonged by implementing antiviral therapy for PLHIV. The proportion of YLLs caused by suicide was the highest (5·46%) in the 15-24 age group. The YLDs in the 25-34 age group were the highest. The YLLs caused by suicide in males were higher than those in the same age group of females. The YLDs and YLLs were higher in heterosexual-infected PLHIV than in homosexual-infected PLHIV, except for YLLs in the 25-34 age group. In summary, this study first provided localized data on the disease burden caused by mental health problems among PLHIV.

Tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic pathway and daytime dysfunction in women with HIV

Sleep disturbances are prevalent in women with HIV (WWH). Tryptophan-kynurenine (T-K) pathway metabolites are associated with alterations in actigraphy derived sleep measures in WWH, although may not always correlate with functional impairment. We investigated the relationship between T-K pathway metabolites and self-reported daytime dysfunction in WWH and women without HIV (WWoH). 141 WWH on stable antiretroviral therapy and 140 demographically similar WWoH enrolled in the IDOze Study had targeted plasma T-K metabolites measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We utilized the daytime dysfunction component of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess functional impairment across HIV-serostatus. Lower levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin were associated with greater daytime dysfunction in all women. In WWH, daytime dysfunction was associated with increased kynurenic acid (R = 0.26, p < 0.05), and kynurenic acid-tryptophan (KA-T) ratio (R = 0.28, p < 0.01). WWH with daytime dysfunction had a 0.7 log fold increase in kynurenic acid compared to WWH without daytime dysfunction. Kynurenic acid levels and the KA-T ratio were associated with daytime dysfunction in WWH but not in WWoH. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish a causal relationship and directionality between T-K metabolic changes and sleep impairment in WWH.

Sleep traits and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: a two-step clustering analysis

Sleep plays an essential role in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH); however, sleep traits in this population are not well studied. This study aims to evaluate the sleep traits and related associated factors among PLWH in Iran. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted with 1185 PLWH who attended Voluntary Counseling and Testing centers in 15 provinces in Iran between April 2021 and March 2022. The Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnea questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Insomnia Severity Index were used. A two-step clustering method was employed to identify the number of sleep clusters in PLWH. Prevalence of poor sleep quality, sleepiness and insomnia were 49.6%, 21.15% and 42.7% respectively. Three sleep trait clusters were identified: I. minor sleep problems (45.6%); II. Snoring & sleep apnea (27.8%), and III. poor sleep quality and insomnia (26.7%). Age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.033, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.017-1.050), academic education (OR 0.542, 95% CI 0.294-0.998) and HIV duration were associated with being in Snoring & sleep apnea cluster, while age (OR = 1.027, 95% CI 1.009-1.040) was associated with being in Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster. PLWH with depression had higher odds of being in Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster, and those with anxiety had higher odds of being in Snoring & sleep apnea cluster and Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster. A significant proportion of PLWH have poor sleep quality, sleepiness, and insomnia. The identification of three distinct sleep trait clusters underscores the need for increased attention and tailored interventions to address the specific sleep issues experienced by PLWH.

Psychological Mechanisms of Internalized HIV Stigma Affect Sleep Impairment among People Living with HIV in China: A follow-up Study

Prior studies have demonstrated that HIV-related stigma (e.g., internalized HIV stigma) is detrimental to the physical and mental health (e.g., sleep impairment and depressive symptoms) of people living with HIV (PLWH). However, follow-up data are limited regarding the longitudinal relationships between internalized HIV stigma, future orientation, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and sleep impairment. The present study attempted to examine a mediation model involving these variables among Chinese PLWH. A two-wave follow-up design (6 months intervals) was employed in a final sample of 1,140 Chinese PLWH (Mage = 41.63, SD = 9.29, age range: 21-67 years; 64.6% men). Participants completed Internalized HIV Stigma Scale, Optimism About the Future Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and an adapted version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results revealed that internalized HIV stigma at baseline had a significant direct relationship with sleep impairment over time, and a significant indirect relationship with increased sleep impairment over time via future orientation and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the linkage between internalized HIV stigma and sleep impairment was serially mediated via self-esteem and depressive symptoms. This study highlights the deleterious effects of internalized HIV stigma on the physical and psychological health of PLWH. The findings suggest that interventions targeting internalized HIV stigma and related factors such as future orientation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms may facilitate improvements in sleep quality and overall well-being among PLWH.

Association between psychological discomforts and sleep quality among people living with HIV/AIDS

BACKGROUND

Psychological discomfort and sleep problems are considered separate disorders. Due to the high prevalence of both disorders among people living with HIV (PLWH), this study was designed to evaluate how those challenges are present among PLWH.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from a national survey of 1185 confirmed PLWH from 15 provinces in Iran from April to August 2019. Psychological discomfort and sleep quality were assessed using standardized versions of related Persian questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between psychological discomfort and sleep quality in PLWH.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress was 47.71%, 50.95%, 44.26%, and 41.77%, respectively. The results of multivariate-adjusted logistic regression showed that each psychological discomfort covariate increased the odds of poor sleep quality. Depression by adjusting for anxiety and stress, anxiety by adjusting for depression and stress, and stress by adjusting for depression and anxiety all increased the odds of poor sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

A high prevalence of psychological discomfort was observed in PLWH. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly associated with sleep quality. PLWH needed more attention and social support in order to reduce sleep and psychological issues.

Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients following ART at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2021: Aa cross-sectional study design

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders is an inflammatory, degenerative diseases and disorders that cause pain and functional impairments. Musculoskeletal disorders are common and the major global health concern among people with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome which causes physical disability. Despite, it is a recognized health problem among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients, there is a lack of data on musculoskeletal disorders among patients following anti-retroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ethiopia. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal disorders among adult human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients following anti-retroviral therapy.

METHOD

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1st to October 1st, 2021 at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia. The data was collected through an interview-administered questionnaire and patient medical record review of 324 participants. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. The strength of the association was detected by the adjusted odds ratio and P-value.

RESULT

The annual prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among participants was 158 (48.5%) with [95% CI: 43%, 54%], opportunistic infection [AOR, 10.43; 95% CI = 2.76-42.25], type of ART medication used, CD4-count [AOR, 0.13; 95% CI 0.03-0.85], and change in anti-retroviral therapy regimen change [AOR, 8.14; 95%CI 2.06-32.09] were significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was moderate. Recent CD4 count, opportunistic infection, antiretroviral therapy regime at initiation, and anti-retroviral therapy regime change were significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorder. A multidisciplinary approach is required for preventing and treating musculoskeletal disorders among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients following anti-retroviral therapy.

Poor subjective sleep reported by people living with HIV is associated with impaired working memory

Poor sleep can undermine health and may be especially disruptive to those with chronic conditions including HIV infection. Here, clinically well-described people living with HIV [PLWH] (74 men, 35 women) and healthy control (38 men, 35 women) participants were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated measure of subjective sleep with a global score ≥5 able to distinguish good from poor sleepers. In addition, participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests. PLWH (6.8 ± 3.7) had higher global PSQI scores than healthy controls (4.1 ± 2.8): 39.7 % of uninfected controls and 68.8 % of PLWH had a PSQI≥5 indicative of poor sleep. There were no relations between the global PSQI score and any evaluated variables among uninfected individuals or with demographic or HIV-related variables in PLWH. Instead, a higher global PSQI score among PLWH was associated with worse "Quality of Life" scores [Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF, p=0.0007), Medical Outcomes Study survey (21-item short form, SF-21, p<0.0001), and Activities of Daily Living-Instrumental (ADL-I, p=0.0041)] and higher Beck Depression Index (BDI, p<0.0001) depressive symptoms. Further, in PLWH, higher global PSQI scores were associated with poor performance on a working memory task, the digit backward span (p=0.0036). In PLWH, the 5 variables together explained 32.3 % of the global PSQI score variance; only 3 variables - the SF-21, BDI, and digit backward scores - explained 30.6 % of the variance. To the extent that poor subjective sleep contributes to impaired working memory in HIV, we speculate that this impairment may be ameliorated by improved sleep health.

The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV

PURPOSE

With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.

METHODS

We analyzed baseline data from a randomized comparison trial of a mobile app intervention aimed to address the social work and legal needs of Black sexual minority men with HIV in Los Angeles County. We used validated scales including the Berger HIV stigma scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 & the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Ladder Scale to assess HIV stigma, depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, and we conducted multivariable linear regression to examine their associations.

RESULTS

Participants experienced HIV stigma especially about disclosure concerns (e.g., 81.9% participants indicated "I am very careful who I tell that I have HIV") and public attitudes (52.3% believed "Most people with HIV are rejected when others find out"). In the multivariable models, higher overall stigma scores were associated with higher likelihood of experiencing depression (adjusted b = 0.235, p < 0.001) and anxiety (adjusted b = 0.188, p = 0.002), and lower life satisfaction (adjusted b = - 0.236, p < 0.001) and quality of life (adjusted b = - 0.053, p = 0.013), adjusting for clinical characteristics including ART initiation, viral load suppression, and medication adherence. In addition, being attacked or harassed in the past year were significantly associated with lower life satisfaction and quality of life (adjusted b = - 3.028, p = 0.046; adjusted b = - 1.438, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the need for focused HIV stigma reduction interventions to promote the overall well-being of Black sexual minority men with HIV. Strategies to promote the patient-reported outcomes may benefit from trauma-informed approaches.

Sleep quality, social rhythms, and depression among people living with HIV: a path analysis based on social zeitgeber theory

Background

People living with HIV frequently report sleep disturbances. The social zeitgeber theory, which proposes that stressful life events can interfere with sleep and even depression by destabilizing daily routines, provides new insights into identifying predictors of sleep disturbances and improving sleep in people living with HIV.

Objective

To explain the pathways affecting sleep quality in people living with HIV based on social zeitgeber theory.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess sleep quality, social rhythms, depression, social support, and coping styles from December 2020 to February 2021. The hypothetical model was tested and respecified by performing path analysis and a bias-corrected bootstrapping method using IBM AMOS 24 software. The report of this study followed the STROBE checklist.

Results

A total of 737 people living with HIV participated in the study. The final model presented a good fit (goodness of fit = 0.999, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.984, normed fit index = 0.996, comparative fit index = 0.998, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.988, root mean square error of approximation = 0.030, chi-squared/degree of freedom = 1.646), explaining 32.3% of the variance in sleep quality among people living with HIV. Lower social rhythm stability was directly associated with poorer sleep quality, and depression mediated the relationship between social rhythms and sleep quality. Social support and coping styles affected sleep quality through social rhythms and depression.

Limitation

The cross-sectional study design precludes making assumptions about causality among factors.

Conclusion

This study validates and extends the applicability of the social zeitgeber theory in the HIV context. Social rhythms have direct and indirect effects on sleep. Social rhythms, sleep, and depression is not simply linked in a cascading sequence but is theoretically linked in a complex way. More studies are needed to explore the predictors of social rhythms, and interventions for stabilizing social rhythms have the potential to alleviate sleep disturbances and depression in people living with HIV.

The association between affective temperaments and insomnia as mediated by satisfaction with life: a cross-sectional study

Background

The primary objectives of this study were to examine whether affective temperaments are associated with satisfac-tion with life; to determine whether satisfaction with life can mediate the relationship between affective tempera-ments and insomnia; and to reaffirm the relationship between affective temperaments and insomnia. We hypothe-sized that affective temperaments were associated directly and indirectly via satisfaction with life with insomnia.

Participants and procedure

A total of 497 participants aged 18 to 67 years, including 435 women and 62 men, were recruited from the general population via an online recruitment platform. We used the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire to evaluate affective temperaments and the Satisfaction with Life Scale to assess satis-faction with life. The Athens Insomnia Scale was used to assess participants’ level of insomnia symptoms.

Results

Depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments correlated positively with insomnia symptoms, but hyperthymic temperament correlated negatively with insomnia symptoms. Satisfaction with life correlated negative-ly with insomnia symptoms. Hyperthymic temperament correlated positively with satisfaction with life, but depres-sive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments correlated negatively with satisfaction with life. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that 30% of the variance in insomnia symptoms was attributable to satisfaction with life level and the presence of cyclothymic and anxious temperaments. The mediation analysis suggested a significant indirect effect of cyclothymic and anxious temperaments on insomnia through satisfaction with life as a mediator between affective temperaments and insomnia.

Conclusions

Cyclothymic and anxious temperaments can influence the symptoms of insomnia directly and indirectly as mediated by satisfaction with life.

Effect of autogenic training on quality of life and symptoms in people living with HIV: A mixed method randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Quality of life of people living with HIV is strongly affected by sleep problems, fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression symptoms. This study set out to evaluate the effects of autogenic training (AT) on quality of life and symptoms within this population.

METHODS

A mixed method randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the AT group (n = 32) or the control group (CG) (n = 31). Quality of life and symptoms were measured in both groups three times: prior to intervention (T0), immediately after intervention (T3), and three months after intervention (T6). Fourteen individual interviews were conducted.

RESULTS

Results show a significant improvement in social and mental dimensions of quality of life for the two groups at T6. They also show a significant improvement in sleep for AT participants at T3. Qualitative results are consistent with quantitative ones.

CONCLUSION

AT seems to improve sleep quality and could improve some dimensions of quality of life and other symptoms among people living with HIV. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01901016.

Poor Quality of Life in HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men is Associated with Excess-Type Constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Introduction

This study explored the pathological constitution as it relates to low quality of life in HIV-infected MSM patients, as a reference for clinical treatment.

Methods

It had a cross-sectional research design using structured questionnaires to collect data, including patient's basic data, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, Wang Qi constitution, and WHOQOL-BREF-Taiwan version questionnaires. We considered the association between constitutions and quality of life of HIV-infected MSM patients. Results and Discussion. The project accepted 203 HIV-infected MSM participants. The three most common pathological constitutions were Yang deficiency 15.5%, yin deficiency 13.1%, and qi deficiency 11.2%. The study determined scores for various quality of life domains: psychological (13.44 ± 2.27), social relationship (13.81 ± 2.80), physiological (14.43 ± 2.41), and environmental (14.78 ± 2.21). The TCM constitution is strongly correlated with the quality of life. Excess constitution had the worst quality of life. Comparing the infected time over one year with the time of <0-2 weeks, the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were determined for abnormal CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio (OR: odds ratio: 0.03, 0.07, respectively, p < 0.001). Compared with the Gentleness constitution, there is a significant difference between the Deficiency and Excess constitution in sleep status and negative mood by multiple regression analysis (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Excess constitutions was correlated with worse quality of life. Even if the immune system was restored, the psychosocial domain, sleep status, and negative mood were not improved.

Poor sleep quality and associated factors among people attending anti-retroviral treatment clinic at Finote selam general hospital, Amhara, Ethiopia

Objective

to assess the prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality in adults with Human Immuno Virus Syndrome who attended an Anti-Retro-Viral Treatment clinic at Finote Selam General Hospital in Amhara, Ethiopia, in 2021.

Methods

A Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from October 15 to November 2020 and systematic random sampling technique was used to select sample size of 399 study subjects. Sleep Quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The data was entered to Epi data version 4.2 and analysis was done with SPSS version 25.0 software. Binary logistic regression technique was employed and variables with p-value less than 0.25 in the Bi-variable analysis were entered to the multivariable analysis. Odds ratio with 95% Confidence Interval was calculated and statistical significance was declared at P-values < 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of poor quality of sleep among PLWHA was 55.1% [95% CI: 50.1–60.2] 0.12 months duration of HIV diagnosis [AOR = 4.02,95% CI: (1.604, 10.070)], CD4 count<200 cells/mm3 [AOR = 2.76,95% CI: (1.189,6.408)]. Viral load >1000 copies [AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: (1.384, 8.417)]and having depression [AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: (1.056, 4.019)] were factors significantly associated with poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

In this study, it was discovered that above 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS had poor sleep quality. It is critical to reduce prevalence by developing prevention and intervention strategies that address the identified factors.

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A cross-sectional study that looked at sleep quality in people with HIV/AIDS.

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Above fifty percent of HIV/AIDS patients had poor sleep quality.

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Poor sleep quality was linked to a lower CD4 count, an increased viral load.

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The more depressed the patient was, the worse his or her sleep quality was.

Sleep Disturbances and Chronic Pain in People with HIV: Implications for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

Purpose of Review

Antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in people with HIV. Despite being virally suppressed, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and neurocognitive impairments persist which can negatively impact quality of life for people with HIV. This article presents relevant literature related to sleep disturbances and chronic pain in people with HIV. The potential impact of these comorbidities on cognition is discussed with implications for managing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND).

Recent Findings

People with HIV and chronic pain report greater insomnia and depressive symptoms compared to those without chronic pain. The neurotoxic effects of HIV itself and sleep and chronic pain induced inflammation can contribute to poorer cognitive outcomes.

Summary

Sleep disturbances and chronic pain are prevalent conditions in people with HIV that may perpetuate the development and exacerbation of HAND. Sleep and pain interventions may preserve cognitive function and improve quality of life for people aging with HIV.

Glutamine antagonist JHU083 improves psychosocial behavior and sleep deficits in EcoHIV-infected mice

Combined antiretroviral therapy ushered an era of survivable HIV infection in which people living with HIV (PLH) conduct normal life activities and enjoy measurably extended lifespans. However, despite viral control, PLH often experience a variety of cognitive, emotional, and physical phenotypes that diminish their quality of life, including cognitive impairment, depression, and sleep disruption. Recently, accumulating evidence has linked persistent CNS immune activation to the overproduction of glutamate and upregulation of glutaminase (GLS) activity, particularly in microglial cells, driving glutamatergic imbalance with neurological consequences. Our lab has developed a brain-penetrant prodrug of the glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON), JHU083, that potently inhibits brain GLS activity in mice following oral administration. To assess the therapeutic potential of JHU083, we infected mice with EcoHIV and characterized their neurobehavioral phenotypes. EcoHIV-infected mice exhibited decreased social interaction, suppressed sucrose preference, disrupted sleep during the early rest period, and increased sleep fragmentation, similar to what has been reported in PLH but not yet observed in murine models. At doses shown to inhibit microglial GLS, JHU083 treatment ameliorated all of the abnormal neurobehavioral phenotypes. To explore potential mechanisms underlying this effect, hippocampal microglia were isolated for RNA sequencing. The dysregulated genes and pathways in EcoHIV-infected hippocampal microglia pointed to disruptions in immune functions of these cells, which were partially restored by JHU083 treatment. These findings suggest that upregulation of microglial GLS may affect immune functions of these cells. Thus, brain-penetrable GLS inhibitors like JHU083 could act as a potential therapeutic modality for both glutamate excitotoxicity and aberrant immune activation in microglia in chronic HIV infection.

Biopsychosocial approach to understanding determinants of depression among men who have sex with men living with HIV: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV are more likely to be depressed than MSM without HIV. The AIDS epidemic will not end if the needs of people living with HIV and the determinants of health are not being addressed. Compared to HIV individuals without depression, depressed HIV individuals have worse clinical outcomes and higher mortality risk. Depression is caused by a complex combination of social, psychological, and biological variables. This systematic review, thereby motivated by the need to address this gap in the literature, aims to articulate determinants of depression among MSM living with HIV according to the biopsychosocial approach.

METHODOLOGY

We systematically searched four databases from 2011 to 2021. We searched for observational studies on determinants of depression among MSM living with HIV. The outcome is depression based on the categorical or numerical outcome. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study risks of bias. Any disagreements are consulted with the third reviewer.

RESULTS

We identified 533 articles, of which only eight studies are included. A total of 3,172 MSMs are included in the studies. We found the determinants of depression and categorized them according to biological, psychological, and social approaches.

CONCLUSION

The determinants of depression with the strongest evidence across studies were enacted HIV-related stigma, unemployment, sleep disturbance, current smoker, black ethnicity, born overseas, ART initiation, and access to mental health care. Despite weaker evidence, the other relevant determinants to be included were older age, internalized stigma, self-efficacy, and social support. Efforts to improve or prevent depression among MSM living with HIV could benefit from addressing the determinants of depression based on the biopsychosocial approach immediately after HIV diagnosis. Integrating mental health screening and care into HIV treatment settings would strengthen HIV prevention and care outcomes and improve access to mental healthcare.

Sleep Disturbance in the Context of HIV: A Concept Analysis

Due to the differing definitions of the concept of sleep disturbance among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), reviewers in this area have not reached any firm conclusions. The study aimed to clarify and provide a stronger foundation for the definition of sleep disturbance in the context of HIV to enhance the concept’s development. Following Beth Rodgers’ concept analysis guidelines, two leading databases were searched, and 73 articles were used for this concept analysis. The attributes, surrogate terms, antecedents, and consequences of sleep disturbance have been identified using thematic analysis. In this analysis, two main attributes of sleep disturbance in the context of HIV were identified: a) subjective measures, including reduced total sleep time, difficulty falling asleep, nighttime and early morning awakenings, feeling sleepy and poorly rested after a night’s sleep, frequent arousals, and irritability, and b) objective measures, including changes in sleep architecture and sleep continuity. Five antecedents of sleep disturbance in the context of HIV were identified.

Meanwhile, the consequences of sleep disturbance in HIV are listed based on the frequency the points occur within the reviewed articles. The list is as follows: fatigue and pain; reduced neurocognitive functions; reduced health outcome and quality of life; poor anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy adherence; daytime sleepiness; depression, anxiety, and maladaptive coping; increased disease progression and cardiovascular mortality; and social phobia, living arrangement and sexual dysfunction. An improved understanding of sleep disturbance in the context of HIV will be beneficial in directing analysts to develop research plans. At the same time, the knowledge gaps identified in the analysis provided a solid basis for further study intending to fill in these gaps.

Association of Poor Sleep With Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms by HIV Disease Status: Women's Interagency HIV Study

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances are prevalent in women living with HIV (WLWH) and can affect mental health and overall quality of life. We examined the prevalence and predictors of poor sleep quality in a US cohort of WLWH and HIV-uninfected controls and the relationship between sleep quality and mental health symptom burden stratified by HIV disease status (viremic WLWH, aviremic WLWH, and HIV-uninfected women).

METHODS

Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in 1583 (400 viremic WLWH, 723 aviremic WLWH, and 460 HIV-uninfected women) Women's Interagency HIV Study participants. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were concurrently assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. Associations between poor sleep quality (global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index >5) and both high depressive (CES-D ≥16) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10) symptoms were each assessed by HIV disease status using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Prevalence of poor sleep quality in the overall sample was 52%, differed by HIV disease status (P = 0.045), and was significantly associated with high depressive and anxiety symptoms in (1) viremic WLWH, (2) aviremic WLWH, and (3) HIV-uninfected women [CES-D: (1) adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.10 to 13.7; (2) aOR = 4.54, 95% CI: 3.07 to 6.73; and (3) aOR = 6.03, 95% CI: 3.50 to 10.4; GAD-7: (1) aOR = 5.20; 95% CI: 2.60 to 10.4, (2) aOR = 6.03; 95% CI: 3.67 to 9.91, and (3) aOR = 6.24; 95% CI: 3.11 to 12.6].

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent, as is mental health symptom burden, among WLWH and HIV-uninfected controls. Future longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the directionality of the relationship.

Relationships Among Trajectories of Sleep Disturbance, Depression, and Antiretroviral Therapy in Persons Newly Diagnosed with HIV: A One-and-a-Half-Year Observational Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE

Sleep disturbance is one of the most prevalent symptoms among persons living with HIV (PLWH). However, the trajectory of sleep patterns in persons newly diagnosed with HIV remains underrecognized. The current study aimed to estimate the trajectory of sleep quality and its associated factors among newly diagnosed PLWH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of a medical center in southern Taiwan from January 2015 to December 2017. Our primary outcome was sleep quality using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI). Participants completed the questionnaire at baseline and at four follow-up interval visits: at 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-15 months. A generalized equation estimation (GEE) model was applied to analyze the relationships among poor sleep quality, depression and antiretroviral therapy among persons newly diagnosed with HIV.

RESULTS

A total of 217 PLWH were included. The mean age of the sample was 29.3 years, and males (98.6%) were predominant. A total of 56.2% of HIV-infected persons were considered to have poor sleep quality at baseline. After controlling for the confounding effects of demographic characteristics, the following factors increased the risk of poor sleep quality: older age (ß= 0.07, CI: 0.03-0.11, p=0.001), level of depression (ß= 0.32, CI: 0.27-0.37, p<0.001) and detectable viral load (ß= 0.61, CI: 0.04 - 1.18, p= 0.037). However, there was no significant difference in BMI, CD4 counts, HIV viral load, disclosure status, or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that one in two persons with newly diagnosed HIV had poor sleep quality. Being older, having higher levels of depression, and having detectable HIV viral loads were identified as risk factors for developing poor sleep quality in persons living with HIV.

Associations between antiretroviral therapy-related experiences and mental health status among people living with HIV in China: a prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety) are among the most commonly reported comorbidities of HIV. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage has increased sharply. The purposes of this prospective cohort study were to investigate the ART-related experiences and whether they were associated with mental health problems among a sample of people living with HIV undergoing ART in China.

METHODS

The participants were 400 people living with HIV who had started ART for the first time in Guangzhou city. They were followed-up 1-year after ART initiation. Probable depression and moderate/severe anxiety were measured at baseline and Month 12, while experiences related to ART (e.g., side effects and regained self-confidence) were measured at Month 6. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to explore the associations between baseline characteristics, ART-related experiences and mental health status.

RESULTS

Among the 300 participants (75.0%) who completed all three surveys, a significant decline in prevalence of probable depression (23.0% at baseline vs. 14.0% at Month 12, P = 0.002) and moderate/severe anxiety (14.7% at baseline vs. 8.7% at Month 12, P = 0.023) was observed during the follow-up period. After adjustment for mental health status and potential confounders at baseline, a number of ART-related experiences at Month 6 were associated with probable depression and/or moderate/severe anxiety measured at Month 12. Improved physical health, relationships with sexual partners, and self-confidence were associated with decreased mental health issues, while the side effects of ART, AIDS-related symptoms, and inconvenience in daily life due to ART use were associated with increased mental health issues.

CONCLUSIONS

ART-related experiences were associated with mental health problems, tailored mental health promotion interventions targeting these experiences are needed.

A Biopsychosocial Approach to HIV Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Analysis to Identify Key Modifiable Factors

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and predictors of current fatigue and fatigue at 1-year follow-up, in people with HIV. Participants were recruited from HIV outpatient clinics in London, England. We explored a range of bio-psychosocial factors associated with current fatigue severity, identifying the most salient factors in a multifactorial model. A prospective study explored the predictive value of specific psychological and behavioral factors in predicting fatigue severity at one year. Sixty-four of 131 (49%) participants met the criteria for clinically significant fatigue at baseline. Psychological and behavioral variables, but not immune-virologic markers or antiretroviral treatment, were associated with current fatigue severity. In the multifactorial model, catastrophizing and distress independently predicted current fatigue severity. Higher levels of fatigue at 1 year was predicted by baseline catastrophizing, symptom focusing, distress and sleep quality, when controlling for baseline fatigue, clinical and demographic variables. These findings suggest psychological and behavioral factors are important in the maintenance of fatigue in people with HIV and identify potential opportunities for treatment. Future interventions for fatigue in HIV should not only address anxiety, depression and distress but could be optimized by targeting psychological processes such as catastrophic thinking styles and symptom focusing.

CD4+ T Cell Count, Sleep, Depression, and Anxiety in People Living With HIV: A Growth Curve Mixture Modeling

We investigated changes in CD⁴⁺ T cell counts related to sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and sociodemographic variables in heterogeneous groups of people living with HIV in a 6-month prospective study. Our longitudinal study involved 247 ambulatory patients living with HIV and using antiretroviral therapy. Sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and CD⁴⁺ T cell counts were assessed three times at 3-month intervals. Growth curve mixture modeling was conducted to explore changes over time. A two-class mixture model with logarithmic change pattern fit the data best. For the majority of the sample (89.1%), anxiety, depression, and sleep quality did not change when CD⁴⁺ T cells increased. For a small proportion of the sample (11.9%), sleep quality, anxiety, and depression deteriorated when CD⁴⁺ T cells decreased. Marital status and alcohol use affected the classification significantly. Health care professionals should provide relevant services to people living with HIV with decreasing CD⁴⁺ T cell counts.

Insomnia, Health, and Health-related Quality of Life in an Urban Clinic Sample of People Living with HIV/AIDS

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

Insomnia is a prevalent and interfering comorbidity of HIV infection. Nearly 70% of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) experience symptoms of insomnia and associated distress. The current study examined the mechanisms of insomnia in HIV health status and health-related quality of life and explored behavioral pathways to explain relationships.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (N = 103) were active patients in an HIV clinic located within a nonprofit, tertiary care hospital in a large, urban city in the Southeast United States.

METHODS

Participants completed a clinical sleep interview and self-report assessments for adherence to antiretroviral medication, depression (PHQ-9), quality of life (ACTG-QOL), and relevant covariates. Viral load and CD4 were obtained via medical chart review.

RESULTS

Insomnia affected 67% of the clinic sample. Insomnia symptoms were directly associated with poorer health-related quality of life (p<.001). Greater insomnia symptoms were also significantly associated with greater depressive symptoms [b =.495, S.E. =.061], poorer medication adherence [b = -.912, S.E. =.292], and worse health status measured by absolute CD4 count [b = -.011, S.E. =.005].

CONCLUSIONS

In this sample of PLWHA, insomnia was associated with poorer health-related quality of life and worse health status. Future research and practice should consider insomnia treatment for this population, as it could improve overall health and well-being.

A supervised exercise intervention fails to improve subjective and objective sleep measures among older adults with and without HIV

BACKGROUND

Chronic sleep disruption can have significant negative health effects and prior studies suggest that people with HIV (PWH) have disproportionately higher rates of sleep problems.

METHODS

We evaluated baseline sleep of sedentary, older adults (50-75 years) with (n = 28) and without HIV (n = 29) recruited into a 24-week exercise study. Subjective sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); objective sleep parameters were assessed using wrist-worn actigraphy. Regression models were used to investigate changes in outcomes.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven participants completed the intervention. At baseline, PWH had significantly lower sleep efficiency (88.7 [95% CI 86, 91]%) compared to controls (91.8 [95% CI 91, 93]%; p = 0.02); other sleep measures indicated poorer sleep among PWH but did not reach statistical significance (p ≥ 0.12). Overall, sleep outcomes did not significantly change with the exercise intervention (all p > 0.05). In adjusted analyses, PWH demonstrated a decrease in total sleep time (-22.1 [-43.7, -0.05] p = 0.045) and sleep efficiency (-1.3 [-2.5, -.01], p = 0.03) during the 24 weeks of exercise; these differences were attenuated and no longer significant after adjusting for exercise intensity. At the completion of the intervention, compared to controls, PWH had significantly poorer sleep by PSQI score (2.2 [0.6, 3.8]; p = 0.006) and sleep efficiency (-2.8 [-5.4,-0.2]%; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, sleep disturbance was more prevalent in sedentary older PWH compared to uninfected controls. An exercise intervention had minimal effect on sleep impairments among PWH nor controls. Among older adults, interventions beyond cardiovascular and resistance exercise may be needed to significantly alter subjective and objective sleep outcomes.

Changes in Sleep Quality and Associated Health Outcomes among Gay and Bisexual Men Living with HIV

Objectives/Background: Although gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV in the U.S., they are underrepresented in HIV-related sleep research. This study sought to (a) investigate changes in self-reported sleep quality among a sample of GBMSM living with HIV during participation in an online sexual risk reduction intervention and (b) examine whether changes in sleep quality predicted later health outcomes.Method/Participants: Men (n = 505) completed measures of sleep quality, psychological distress, condom use self-efficacy, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Analyses focused on data obtained from participants as part of the eligibility survey, baseline assessment, and the 9- and 12-month follow-up assessments.Results: Most participants did not report changes in their sleep quality (i.e., 50.1% maintained good sleep quality, 22.8% maintained poor sleep quality) between study screening and 9-month follow-up. Nevertheless, 17.0% indicated improved sleep quality and 10.1% indicated a negative change in sleep quality. Compared to those who maintained good sleep quality during the study, men whose sleep quality declined by 9 months reported significantly greater symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as lower ART adherence and condom use self-efficacy at 12 months. Similarly, men who maintained poor sleep quality reported greater symptoms of depression and anxiety at 12 months. Men whose sleep quality improved reported better mental health than those with poor or worsening sleep quality.Conclusions: Findings suggest that optimizing sleep health should be prioritized in interventions aimed at improving overall well-being of GBMSM living with HIV.

Cross-sectional comparison of various sleep disturbances among sex- and age-matched HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected individuals in China

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of various sleep disturbances in HIV-infected patients compared to sex- and age-frequency-matched HIV-uninfected controls in China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis included 1469 HIV-infected cases and 2938 HIV-uninfected controls. Insomnia symptoms, poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] >5) as well as their specific domains, were assessed.

RESULTS

Prevalence of insomnia symptoms, poor sleep quality, and long sleep duration were higher in HIV-infected vs uninfected participants (23.7% vs 19.8%, 24.1% vs 19.9%, and16.1% vs 8.7%, respectively; all p < 0.05), and remained significant after adjusting for age, sex and education. An Age-stratified analysis showed that such differences were significant only at ages 18-29 and 30-44 years for insomnia symptoms and poor sleep quality long sleep duration was significant across all age groups. Among HIV-infected patients, multivariate analysis indicated that older age, depressive symptoms and frailty score were the most consistent variables associated with sleep disorders (ie, insomnia symptoms, poor sleep quality, short and long sleep durations), as well as all associations (if significant) were positive, excluding the negative associations of older age and depressive symptoms with short sleep duration. Regarding HIV-specific factors, only current CD4 cell count ≥500 cells/μL was negatively associated with insomnia symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of HIV infection on sleep disturbances may differ across age groups and are more pronounced among young adults. Additionally, the phenomenon of prolonged sleep duration among HIV-infected patients should be noted, and its link to poor physical health warrants further investigation.

Health Disparities and the Digital Divide: The Relationship between Communication Inequalities and Quality of Life among Women in a Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study in the United States

Background: Communication inequalities can affect health-seeking behaviors yet the relationship between Internet use and overall health is inconclusive. Communication-related inequalities vary by race/ethnicity and SES but existing research primarily includes middle-class Whites. We therefore examined the relationship between communication-related inequalities-measured by daily Internet use-and health-related quality of life (QOL) using a nationwide prospective cohort study in the United States that consists of primarily low income, minority women. Methods: We examined Internet use and QOL among participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Data collection occurred from October 2014-September 2015 in Chicago, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chapel Hill, Birmingham/Jackson and Miami. We used multi-variable analyses to examine the relationship between daily Internet use and QOL. Results: The sample of 1,915 women was 73% African American and 15% Hispanic; 53% reported an annual income of ≤$12,000. Women with daily Internet use reported a higher QOL at six months, as did women with at least a high school diploma, income >$12,000, and non-White race; older women and those with reported drug use, depressive symptoms and loneliness had lower QOL. Conclusions: Overcoming communication inequalities may be one pathway through which to improve overall QOL and address public health priorities. Reducing communication-related inequalities-e.g, by providing reliable Internet access-and thus improving access to health promoting information, may lead to improved health outcomes.

Ethical considerations for HIV cure-related research at the end of life

Background

The U.S. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have a new research priority: inclusion of terminally ill persons living with HIV (PLWHIV) in HIV cure-related research. For example, the Last Gift is a clinical research study at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for PLWHIV who have a terminal illness, with a prognosis of less than 6 months.

Discussion

As end-of-life (EOL) HIV cure research is relatively new, the scientific community has a timely opportunity to examine the related ethical challenges. Following an extensive review of the EOL and HIV cure research ethics literature, combined with deliberation from various stakeholders (biomedical researchers, PLWHIV, bioethicists, and socio-behavioral scientists) and our experience with the Last Gift study to date, we outline considerations to ensure that such research with terminally ill PLWHIV remains ethical, focusing on five topics: 1) protecting autonomy through informed consent, 2) avoiding exploitation and fostering altruism, 3) maintaining a favorable benefits/risks balance, 4) safeguarding against vulnerability through patient-participant centeredness, and 5) ensuring the acceptance of next-of-kin/loved ones and community stakeholders.

Conclusion

EOL HIV cure-related research can be performed ethically and effectively by anticipating key issues that may arise. While not unique to the fields of EOL or HIV cure-related research, the considerations highlighted can help us support a new research approach. We must honor the lives of PLWHIV whose involvement in research can provide the knowledge needed to achieve the dream of making HIV infection curable.