RISK FACTORS FOR NONADHERENCE TO FOLLOW-UP MONITORING AND TREATMENT OF HIV INFECTION: RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF PATIENTS WHO START TREATMENT AND THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY

Objective. To investigate risk factors for nonadherence to HIV treatment. Subjects and methods. A total of 311 HIV-infected patients (209 men and 102 women) were interviewed. Group 1 consisted of 241 patients who had undergone treatment; Group 2 included 70 patients who started HIV treatment for the f irst time. Quality of life was assessed according to the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire and the General Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire. Depressive disorder and HIV therapy satisfaction were determined using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (HIVTSQ). Results. There were no statistically significant differences in the data obtained in the groups according to the scales of physical functioning and role functioning related to the physical status. The scores of the scale of role functioning related to the emotional status were significantly lower in Group 2 (76.54 ± 35.23 versus 87.07 ± 26.8 in Group 1). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients having high depression scale scores; however, such patients were more in Group 2. Complete therapy satisfaction was reported by 25.7% of the respondents in Group 1. Conclusion. The investigation has shown emotional vulnerability in the patients starting treatment for the first time, as well as antiretroviral therapy dissatisfaction in those who have undergone HIV treatment. The techniques that can assess the presence of a depressive disorder, quality of life in patients, and their therapy satisfaction will help to clarify the scope and contents of measures aimed at preventing the risks for impairment and replenishment of the resources for maintaining adherence to follow-up monitoring and disease treatment.

HIV infection, treatment adherence, risks of nonadherence