Alcohol Consumption, Progression of Disease and Other Comorbidities, and Responses to Antiretroviral Medication in People Living with HIV

Abstract

The present paper describes the possible connection between alcohol consumption and adherence to medicine used to treat human deficiency viral (HIV) infection. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has a positive influence on longevity in patients with HIV, substantially reducing morbidity and mortality, including resource-poor settings such as South Africa. However, in a systematic comparison of HAART outcomes between low-income and high-income countries in the treatment of HIV-patients, mortality was higher in resource-poor settings. Specifically, in South Africa, patients often suffer from concomitant tuberculosis and other infections that may contribute to these results. Alcohol influences the use of medicine for opportunistic infections (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis), or coinfections HIV-hepatitis viruses-B (HBV) and C (HCV), cytomegalovirus, or herpes simplex virus. Furthermore, alcohol use may negatively impact on medication adherence contributing to HIV progression. The materials used provide a data-supported approach. They are based on analysis of published (2006–2011) world literature and the experience of the authors in the specified topic. Intended for use by health care professionals, these recommendations suggest approaches to the therapeutic and preventive aspects of care. Our intention was to fully characterize the quality of evidence supporting recommendations, which are reflecting benefit versus risk, and assessing strength or certainty.

La mala calidad de sueño se asocia a una menor adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad en pacientes peruanos con infección por VIH/SIDA

“…Asimismo, encontramos asociación de la presencia de comorbilidades a la adherencia al TAR-GA, situación que ha sido descrita en otras series 25,36,61,62 . En nuestro estudio no se contó con el número suficiente de casos para tener una frecuencia específica por cada enfermedad que permita incluir en el análisis de asociación.…”

“…La importancia de ello es que incluir la evaluación de la calidad del sueño e identificar a los malos dormidores de forma precoz, permitiría identificar poblaciones vulnerables -con una probabilidad mayor de abandonar el tratamiento-en el contexto de la práctica clíni-ca ambulatoria. Asimismo, la mala calidad del sueño moderada/severa afecta notoriamente la calidad de vida y se requiere evaluación médica especializada; por lo cual su detección permitiría derivar a los pacientes para un manejo adecuado y evitar complicaciones subsecuentes 61,62 . Por ello, se recomienda que se investigue y se recolecte información que permita evaluar la calidad del sueño en estos pacientes con los fines de intervenir tempranamente los efectos asociados, como el impacto en la adherencia al TARGA.…”

Behavioral Competencies and Low Alcohol and Drugs Use Predicts Medication - Adherence Behaviors Among HIV+ Persons from Venezuela

“…The success of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV+ persons strongly rely on individual factors, including the patient's personality characteristics [1,2], a good motivation and a set of knowledge, skills and abilities related to both the disease and treatment [3], the concurrence of adaptative emotional states [4], and a low alcohol and drugs use [5,6]. Despite convergent body of evidence has confirmed the role of individual factors on medication-adherence behaviors in Latin America countries and the Caribbean region, such as Argentina [7], Chile [8], Peru [9] and the Dominican Republic [10], little progress has been made in countries like Venezuela.…”

Association Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and HIV-Related Risk Factors for HIV-Positive Haitian Women

“…For instance, a longitudinal study of 231 HIV-positive adults (of whom 126 were alcohol users) found that alcohol significantly accelerated the progression of the disease due to direct effects on CD4 cells and reduced adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) (Baum, 2010). One study found that HIV-positive individuals were 50-60% more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than HIV-negative subjects (Chrothers et al, 2006), and a 2012 study found that cardiovascular diseases were still prevalent and progressed faster in HIV-positive individuals that in their HIV-negative counterparts (Neuman, Schneider, Nanau, & Parry, 2012). HIV-positive individuals frequently have to deal with impairment in cognition and life function.…”

“…viral hepatitis), and risk of cancers (Molina et al 2010;Szabo et al 2009). For chronic drinkers, it can cause chronic inflammation (Bagby et al, 2015, Neuman, Schneider, Nanau, & Parry, 2012Hahn & Samet, 2010;Molina et al 2010;Szabo et al 2009). …”