Understanding the Impact of Hazardous and Harmful Use of Alcohol and/or Other Drugs on ARV Adherence and Disease Progression.

South Africa Republic of Cape Town Cape Town University Department of Social Sciences and Department of Sociology

Virginia Commonwealth University Drug Alcohol Research Institute, Richmond, Virginia State, USA

South Africa Cape Town Medical Research Council Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Groups, South Africa Stellenbosch Stellenbosch University Psychiatry Department

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of harmful and harmful use of alcohol and / or other drugs on ARV compliance and disease progression in HIV patients. Use cross-sectional study design. A total of 1,503 patients attending the AIDS clinic in Cape Town, South Africa were screened for problematic substance use. Subsamples of 607 patients (303 patients who received positive screening for problematic substances and 304 patients who did not receive screening) participated in this study. Use of harmful or harmful alcohol and use of problematic drugs predict loss and discontinuation of antiretroviral drugs. This is related to the reduction in the CD4 count of HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) patients and the progress and health condition of HIV. Even worse. The results of this study highlight the need for an integrated approach to managing substance use disorders of people living with HIV.

However, in South Africa, few studies have focused on the relationship between alcoholism and ARV compliance failure. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between alcohol and drug abuse and ARV compliance in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the harmful or harmful use of alcohol and the use of problematic drugs, as well as predictors of these effects on ARV compliance and CD4 numbers.

Understand the adverse effects of hazardous use of alcohol and other drugs on retroviral drug compliance and disease progression

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of harmful and harmful use of alcohol and / or other drugs on ARV compliance and disease progression in HIV patients. Use cross-sectional study design. A total of 1,503 patients attending the AIDS clinic in Cape Town, South Africa were screened for problematic substance use. Subsamples of 607 patients (303 patients who received positive screening for problematic substances and 304 patients who did not receive screening) participated in this study. Use of harmful or harmful alcohol and use of problematic drugs predict loss and discontinuation of antiretroviral drugs. This is related to the reduction in the CD4 count of HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) patients and the progress and health condition of HIV. Even worse. The results of this study highlight the need for an integrated approach to managing substance use disorders of people living with HIV.

Understand the adverse effects of hazardous use of alcohol and other drugs on retroviral drug compliance and disease progression

Most studies use substance use as a risk factor for HIV infection. However, recent research has focused on the impact of drinking alcohol on people infected with viruses. Harmful or detrimental use of alcohol in people suffering from HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) is thought to be associated with poor adhesion to anti-retroviral drugs, re-infection, reduced virus suppression, increased viral replication and early death It is done. The combination of alcohol and drug is also associated with the lowest rate of ARV compliance and virus suppression. Likewise, using stimulants for people living with HIV may accelerate the progression of HIV, reduce the number of CD4, and predict AIDS-related mortality.

Understand the adverse effects of hazardous use of alcohol and other drugs on retroviral drug compliance and disease progression