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

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125088
• Publication Date: 2015-05-01T14:02:38Z
• Authors: Rehana Kader; Rajen Govender; Soraya Seedat; John Randy Koch; Charles Parry
• Keywords: Substance abuse; Adult; Male; HIV patients; Alcohol Drinking; Substance-Related Disorders; Science; Health Status; 610; HIV Infections; 613; Drug abuse; Medication Adherence; South Africa; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Humans; Alcohol consumption; Demography; Q; R; HIV; 3. Good health; Alcoholism; Logistic Models; Unemployment; Drug adherence; Drug users; Disease Progression; Medicine; Female; Alcohol use; Research Article

The objective of this study was to understand the impact hazardous and harmful use alcohol and/or other drugs on ARV adherence disease progression among HIV patients. A cross-sectional design used. total 1503 patients attending clinics in Cape Town, South Africa were screened for problematic substance use. sub-sample 607 (303 who positive 304 did not) participated study. Hazardous or drug predicted missing stopping ARVs which, turn, associated with a decrease CD4 counts more rapid HIV-disease poorer health outcomes people living HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). findings underscore need an integrated approach managing substance-use disorders PLWHA.