Difficulties reported by hiv-infected patients using antiretroviral therapy in brazil

AUTOR(ES)

Guimarães, Mark Drew Crosland, Rocha, Gustavo Machado, Campos, Lorenza Nogueira, Freitas, Felipe Melo Teixeira de, Gualberto, Felipe Augusto Souza, Teixeira, Ramiro d’Ávila Rivelli, Castilho, Fábio Morato de

FONTE

Clinics

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To describe the degree of difficulty that HIV-infected patients have with therapy treatment. INTRODUCTION: Patients’ perceptions about their treatment are a determinant factor for improved adherence and a better quality of life. METHODS: Two cross-sectional analyses were conducted in public AIDS referral centers in Brazil among patients initiating treatment. Patients interviewed at baseline, after one month, and after seven months following the beginning of treatment were asked to classify and justify the degree of difficulty with treatment. Logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: Among 406 patients initiating treatment, 350 (86.2%) and 209 (51.5%) returned for their first and third visits, respectively. Treatment perceptions ranged from medium to very difficult for 51.4% and 37.3% on the first and third visits, respectively. The main difficulties reported were adverse reactions to the medication and scheduling. A separate logistic regression indicated that the HIV-seropositive status disclosure, symptoms of anxiety, absence of psychotherapy, higher CD4+ cell count (> 200/mm³) and high (> 4) adverse reaction count reported were independently associated with the degree of difficulty in the first visit, while CDC clinical category A, pill burden (> 7 pills), use of other medications, high (> 4) adverse reaction count reported and low understanding of medical orientation showed independent association for the third visit. CONCLUSIONS: A significant level of difficulty was observed with treatment. Our analyses suggest the need for early assessment of difficulties with treatment, highlighting the importance of modifiable factors that may contribute to better adherence to the treatment protocol.

Documentos Relacionados

• Metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Latin America
• Adherence to antiretroviral therapy of Brazilian HIV-infected children and their caregivers
• Occurrence of pneumocystis pneumonia in hiv-infected patients and the interference of the highly active antiretroviral therapy
• Survival of HIV‐infected patients in the intensive care unit in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy
• Low bone mineral density among HIV-infected patients in Brazil