The Relationship Between Sexual Behavior Stigma and Depression Among Men Who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Kigali, Rwanda: a Cross-sectional Study

To evaluate the role of sexual behavior stigma as a determinant of depressive symptoms among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Kigali, Rwanda. MSM/TGW aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) between March-August, 2018. Mental health was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Sexual behavior stigma from friends and family, healthcare workers, and community members was assessed using a validated instrument. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the association between sexual behavior stigma and depressive symptoms and depression. Secondary analyses further compared depression and depressive symptoms among MSM and TGW. Among the 736 participants included, 14% (106/736) identified as TGW. Depression 8.9% (RDS-adjusted, 7.6%; 95% CI, 4.6-10.6) and mild/moderate symptoms of depression 26.4% (RDS-adjusted, 24.1%; 95% CI, 19.4-28.7) were common and higher among TGW compared to MSM (p < 0.001). Anticipated (41%), perceived (36%), and enacted (45%) stigmas were highly prevalent, and were also significantly higher among TGW (p < 0.001). In multivariable RDS-adjusted analysis, anticipated (relative risk ratio (RRR), 1.88; 95% CI, 1.11-3.19) and perceived (RRR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.12-3.79) stigmas were associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. Anticipated (RRR, 4.78; 95% CI, 1.74-13.13) and enacted (RRR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.61-5.93) stigmas were also associated with a higher prevalence of depression. In secondary analyses, the significant differences between MSM and TGW were lost after adjusting for stigma. These data demonstrate a high burden of depressive symptoms and depression among MSM/TGW in Kigali. Conceptually, stigma is a likely antecedent of mental health stress among MSM and TGW suggesting the potential utility of scaling up stigma mitigation interventions to improve the quality of life and mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minority communities in Rwanda.

4970Validation of ESC/ERS 2015 guidelines risk score in patients with scleroderma associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH)

Background

The ESC/ERS 2015 guidelines presented a comprehensive risk assessment model with three risk categories based on different clinical and biomarkers data. Low, intermediate and high risk were defined with one-year mortality of <5%, 5–10% and >10%. Different groups suggested different methods of risk assessment based on this model.

Purpose

We applied three different methods to validate the ESC/ERS risk prediction model for one-year survival in SSc-PAH.

Methods

309 patients with SSc-PAH have been diagnosed and managed in our institution from 2006 to 2017. We used three different risk assessment models that have been previously suggested.

1. Suggested by the Swedish group 1: Having a score of 1 (low risk), 2 (intermediate risk) or 3 (high risk) resulting from the average of the sum obtained after grading each of the variables (whichever available) from 1 to 3 according to ESC/ERS guidelines cut-offs for WHO-functional class (FC), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), NT-Pro BNP, right atrial pressure (RAP) and cardiac index (CI).

2. Suggested by the French group 2: Having none, 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the following low-risk criteria of; FC, 6MWD, RAP and CI.

3. Instead of the invasive data, The French group also suggested the use of a non-invasive model including NT-Pro BNP.

Patients were divided into different risk groups according to data obtained at baseline and at their 6-month follow-up. Survival analysis over a 5-year period was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

Overall median follow-up was 33.3 months. One year survival was significantly different between the risk groups (p<0.001) using either baseline or follow-up data. Applying the French group non-invasive model, almost two thirds of the population ended up in the higher risk group. Whilst applying the Swedish model, two thirds of the population ended up in the intermediate risk group. In all the models used, there were significantly less number of patients in the lower risk groups at onset with improvement of risk profile at follow up. An important advantage of the Swedish model, that it can be calculated even in the presence of missing data, a problem commonly encountered. The French models are easier to calculate but they cannot be applied when there is missing data.

5-year survival with different models

Conclusion

All models used were valuable in risk prediction of SSc-PAH both at onset and at follow up. However, each model has some caveats which should be considered. In all the methods used, the prevalence of high risk criteria is higher amongst the SSc-PAH population which indicates the higher risk profile at the time of diagnosis in comparison to other PAH populations, which could explain the poorer outcome.