CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is not a stable condition, but is dynamic, like mental conditions. The aim of this study was to examine whether non-adherence to ART is related to demographic and immunological variables, substance use and presence of depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional prevalence study carried out at a public AIDS treatment center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between July 2006 and January 2007. METHODS: 438 patients on regular ART schedules with recent laboratory tests answered a demographic questionnaire, questions about substance use, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). RESULTS: The prevalence of non-adherence over the past three months (a pattern of treatment interruption) was 46.3%, and 27.2% also reported this in the past week (a pattern of missed doses). ART interruption was significantly related to older age, lower CD4+ cell count and homosexual/bisexual transmission. The pattern of missed doses was significantly related to younger age, higher HDRS scores and higher viral load of RNA HIV. CONCLUSION: ART interruption may reflect recall errors and changes to the Brazilian demographic characteristics of HIV infection. The missed doses may reflect lifestyle characteristics of younger individuals. Attendance for HIV-positive individuals, particularly younger patients, should involve interventions and counseling in relation to the presence of depressive symptoms.
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is not a stable condition, but is dynamic, like mental conditions. The aim of this study was to examine whether non-adherence to ART is related to demographic and immunological variables, substance use and presence of depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional prevalence study carried out at a public AIDS treatment center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between July 2006 and January 2007. METHODS: 438 patients on regular ART schedules with recent laboratory tests answered a demographic questionnaire, questions about substance use, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). RESULTS: The prevalence of non-adherence over the past three months (a pattern of treatment interruption) was 46.3%, and 27.2% also reported this in the past week (a pattern of missed doses). ART interruption was significantly related to older age, lower CD4+ cell count and homosexual/bisexual transmission. The pattern of missed doses was significantly related to younger age, higher HDRS scores and higher viral load of RNA HIV. CONCLUSION:ART interruption may reflect recall errors and changes to the Brazilian demographic characteristics of HIV infection. The missed doses may reflect lifestyle characteristics of younger individuals. Attendance for HIV-positive individuals, particularly younger patients, should involve interventions and counseling in relation to the presence of depressive symptoms.
Authors: Hanalise V Huff; Paloma M Carcamo; Monica M Diaz; Jamie L Conklin; Justina Salvatierra; Rocio Aponte; Patricia J Garcia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-12 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Maria Altenfelder Santos; Mark Drew Crosland Guimarães; Ernani Tiaraju Santa Helena; Cáritas Relva Basso; Felipe Campos Vale; Wania Maria do Espírito Santo Carvalho; Ana Maroso Alves; Gustavo Machado Rocha; Francisco de Assis Acurcio; Maria das Graças Braga Ceccato; Rogério Ruscitto do Prado; Paulo Rossi Menezes; Maria Ines Batistella Nemes Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2018-05 Impact factor: 1.889