Marseille 2007
| Abstract #57 - Trends in antiretroviral uptake, experience and interruption in Australia 1997-2005 | ||||
|
Session: 39.3: Treatment (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 14.00-16.00 in HC Chaired by Robin Hamilton, Raffaele Visintini Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Jeffrey Grierson - La Trobe University, Australia |
||||
| Additional Authors: Ms Rachel Thorpe, Prof Marian Pitts, | ||||
| Aim: This paper assesses the changes in antiretroviral (ARV) treatment experience among HIV positive Australians over an eight year period. This period has seen significant changes in the available antiretroviral regimens and in prescribing practice. There exists considerable pharmacological, immunological and clinical analyses of antiretroviral treatment. This is usefully complemented by analyses drawn from the experience of PLWHA themselves in relation to treatment, particularly where these findings are drawn from non-clinical samples. The aim of this paper is to examine trends in uptake, treatment experience, treatment interruption and attitudes toward ARV over the period of combination therapy in a large, multi-sourced non-clinical sample of PLWHA. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The results reported here are drawn from the HIV Futures surveys, five cross-sectional Australian nationwide studies of multiple aspects of the lives of PLWHA, both clinical and social. The study was conducted in 1997 (N=925), 1999 (N=921), 2001 (N=894) 2003 (N=1059) and 2005 (N=973). The studies included detailed assessments of treatment experience and attitudes of respondents. | ||||
| Results / Comments: There had been a sustained decrease in proportion of sample using ARV between 1997 and 2003 (78%, 74%, 72%, 70%) although 2005 data show an increase with 75% of respondents currently using ARV. The proportion that has never used ARV has remained steady at around 13%. Compliance with ARV has remained high with around 90% of those using the treatments reporting no missed does in the two days prior to survey. Changes in the regimens used indicate a considerable shift toward once-per-day dosing. This correlates with changes in the profile of difficulties with ARV use reported by PLWHA over this period. Generally PLWHA report fewer difficulties, and this is particularly noticeable in relation to difficulties around timing and side-effects. The proportion taking breaks from ARV also rose from 37% in 1999 to 47% in 2003, although in 2005 this proportion has decreased to 42%. Only 18% had taken a break in the two years prior to the 2005 survey. Confidence in antiretroviral treatments has also increased over the period of the surveys, with a steady trend from 59% reporting confidence in 1997 to 81% in 2005. This is however tempered by an increasing belief that ARVs are harmful (from 24% in 1997 to 38% in 2005). | ||||
| Discussion: These findings suggest that at a population level, the negative impact of antiretrovirals on the lives of PLWHA is lessening, although significant problems still remain. Changes in the clinical / pharmacological environment and in the HIV positive population itself are leading to subtle but important differences in the experience and perception of antiretroviral treatments. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||
