1.Baseline adherence, socio-demographic, clinical, immunological, virological and anthropometric characteristics of 242 HIV positive patients on ART in Malaysia
Abdulrahman Surajudeen Abiola ; Lekhraj Rampal ; Norlijah Othman ; Faisal Ibrahim ; Hayati Kadir@Shahar ; Anuradha P. Radhakrishnan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2015;11(2):45-58
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents disease progression, and the emergence of resistant
mutations. It also reduces morbidity, and the necessity for more frequent, complicated regimens which
are also relatively more expensive. Minimum adherence levels of 95% are required for treatment success.
Poor adherence to treatment remains a stumbling block to the success of treatment programs. This
generates major concerns about possible resistance of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the
currently available ARVs. This paper aims to describe baseline results from a cohort of 242 Malaysian
patients receiving ART within the context of an intervention aimed to improve adherence and treatment
outcomes among patients initiating ART.
A single-blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial was conducted between January and December,
2014 in Hospital Sungai Buloh. Data on socio-demographic factors, clinical symptoms and adherence
behavior of respondents was collected using modified, pre-validated
Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG) adherence questionnaires. Baseline CD4 count, viral load,
weight, full blood count, blood pressure, Liver function and renal profile tests were also conducted and
recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and R software.
Patients consisted of 215 (89%) males and 27 (11%) females. 117 (48%) were Malays, 98 (40%) were
Chinese, 22 (9%) were Indians while 5 (2%) were of other ethnic minorities. The mean age for the
intervention group was 32.1 ± 8.7 years while the mean age for the control group was 34.7 ± 9.5 years.
Mean baseline adherence was 80.1 ± 19.6 and 85.1 ± 15.8 for the intervention and control groups
respectively. Overall mean baseline CD4 count of patients was 222.97 ± 143.7 cells/mm³ while overall
mean viral load was 255237.85 ± 470618.9. Patients had a mean weight of 61.55 ± 11.0 kg and 61.47 ±
12.3 kg in the intervention and control groups, respectively.
Males account for about 90% of those initiating ART in the HIV clinic, at a relatively low CD4 count,
high viral load and sub-optimal medication adherence levels at baseline.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
3.Poor Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy And Associated Factors Among People Living With Hiv In Omdurman City, Sudan
Yassin Ibrahim ; Rosnah Sutan ; Khalib Abdul Latif ; Al-Abed A. Al-Abed ; Ahmed Amara ; Ishag Adam
Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2014;14(1):90-101
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) plays an important role in the treatment outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Poor adherence would result in failure to prevent viral replication as well as an increased risk of developing drug resistance. Adherence to a life long treatment such as antiretroviral therapy is usually a complicated issue that requires careful and continuous collaboration of patient, family and healthcare provider. The objective of this study was to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among people living with HIV. This is a health facility-based cross sectional study conducted among adults’ people living with HIV in Omdurman HIV/AIDS centre, Sudan. Data was collected through direct interview using semi-structured questionnaire. There were only 144/846 (17.02%) who adhered to antiretroviral therapy as prescribed by their doctors. The remaining 51.18% were taking the therapy but not regularly, 31.21% were taking it but currently not and 0.59% stated that they have never taken any antiretroviral therapy. Factors associated with poor adherence that have been identified include female gender (Adj. OR = 3.46 (95%CI: 1.46–8.21), P = 0.005), younger age (Adj. OR = 1.14 (95%CI: 1.02–1.28), P = 0.022), being unemployed (Adj. OR = 5.94 (95%CI: 1.51–23.40), P = 0.011), those who were divorced, separated or widowed (Adj. OR = 11.35 (95%CI: 1.74–73.96), P = 0.011) and respondents who perceived that their health status is poor (Adj. OR = 5.21 (95%CI: 1.44–18.81), P = 0.012) or very poor (Adj. OR = 4.04 (95%CI: 1.27–12.81), P = 0.018). Educational level and social support against HIV-related stigma and discrimination were not significantly associated with adherence. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among the respondents is very poor. Urgent interventions based on modifiable factors and mainly targeting females and younger age group are needed to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV.
HIV
;
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
;
Therapeutics
;
Adult
4.AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma: A case series in the Philippine setting
Ricky H Hipolito ; Ma Teresita G Gabriel ; Johannes F Dayrit ; Ma Carmela P Bucoy
Journal of the Philippine Dermatological Society 2021;30(2):69-73
Introduction:
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) has unique clinical characteristics, often dis-
seminated on presentation, a rapidly progressive course, and often fatal outcome. Describing the epidemiology and clinical
characteristics of AIDS-KS in the Philippines may lead to early recognition, diagnosis, and management of this condition, which
are the keys to preventing significant complications.
Case Series:
AIDS-KS in 11 Filipino MSM patients with a mean age of 36.55 years (SD 11.54) was described. Violaceous plaques and
nodules were present for an average of 5.1 months prior to diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. Histopathologic findings from all pa-
tients were consistent with KS.
The median CD4+ count of patients was 44 cells/microliter (range, 4 to 181). Six patients presented with opportunistic infections
(OI)/AIDS-related conditions (ARC). The most common OIs observed were pulmonary tuberculosis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, and
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Nine patients improved with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). One patient required
modification on his HAART regimen, which was shifted to 2 NRTI and ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor, and one patient died
due to AIDS-related complications.
Conclusion
This series of 11 cases of AIDS-KS showed similar demographic, clinical and histopathologic characteristics to pre-
viously published studies. Findings suggest the need for earlier recognition and diagnosis. While HAART afforded clinical improve-
ment in a majority of patients, other treatment options such as chemotherapy should be considered for appropriate patients.
Sarcoma, Kaposi
;
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
5.HIV in the Philippines: A prime target for elimination through test-and-treat
Acta Medica Philippina 2012;46(1):54-56
While the Philippines has one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates in the world, an unprecedented increase in recent years seems to indicate that a large epidemic is only be a matter of time. Multiple factors including poor condom use, increasing rates of casual sex, and misinformation, are ingredients for the widespread emergence of HIV. Financial consequences will be significant since the Philippine economy is increasingly driven by industries employing young people who are at risk. Recent research showing better clinical outcomes for early treatment with antiretrovirals (ARVs), coupled with data demonstrating a drastic reduction in transmission with early therapy, provide a compelling argument for a universal test and treat strategy. With just over 7,000 confirmed cases, this approach is financially feasible, and is an efficient model for proof-of-concept.
Human
;
Male
;
Female
;
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY, HIGHLY ACTIVE
;
HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
;
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
6.Molecular Analysis of Protease and Reverse Transcriptase in an AIDS Patient with HAART - Failure.
Young Keol CHO ; Hee Jung LEE ; Heui Ran LEE ; Yoo Kyum KIM
Journal of Bacteriology and Virology 2001;31(1):63-68
No abstract available.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
;
Humans
;
RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase*