Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa.
BACKGROUND:Depression is a leading cause of disability and may be associated with decreased adherence to ART. We sought to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms and outcomes one year after screening among patients receiving ART at a large HIV Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS:Ad...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6155448?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811206169436356608 |
|---|---|
| author | Kate Shearer Denise Evans Barbara Xhosa Kamban Hirasen Craig Bracken Kay Mahomed Lawrence Long Matthew P Fox |
| author_facet | Kate Shearer Denise Evans Barbara Xhosa Kamban Hirasen Craig Bracken Kay Mahomed Lawrence Long Matthew P Fox |
| author_sort | Kate Shearer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND:Depression is a leading cause of disability and may be associated with decreased adherence to ART. We sought to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms and outcomes one year after screening among patients receiving ART at a large HIV Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS:Adult (≥18) patients who had been on first-line ART between 6-18 months who could communicate in English were eligible. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and a score ≥10 indicated depression. RESULTS:97 patients enrolled. Patients had been on ART for a median (IQR) of 8 (7-10) months, 61% were female, the median (IQR) age at enrollment was 38 (33-42) years, and the median (IQR) CD4 count at ART initiation was 154.5 (65-263) cells/mm3. 7 (7%) patients were found to have symptoms of depression; 4 (4%) had symptoms of moderate depression (PHQ score of 10-14) and 3 (3%) had symptoms of moderate/severe depression (PHQ score of 15-19). Women (10%) were more likely to have symptoms of depression than men (3%; prevalence difference [PD]: 7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]:-1.7%-16.8%); as were patients under the age of 30 (14%) compared to those 30-39 (4%; PD: -10.2; 95% CI: -29.4-9.0%) or ≥40 (9%; PD: -5.5%; -26.1%-15.2%), those with lower CD4 counts at ART initiation (<200 cells/mm3 vs ≥200 cells/mm3: 8% vs 3%; PD: 4.8%; 95% CI: -4.5%-14.0%), and those with high viral loads (>1000 copies/mL vs. <400 copies/mL: 40% vs. 5%; PD: 34.6%; 95% CI: -8.6%-77.6%). No relationship between depressive symptoms and retention in HIV care one year after screening was observed. CONCLUSIONS:We found a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to findings from other HIV-positive populations in South Africa but more than one-third of patients with an elevated viral load had evidence of depression. Further research on the relationship between depression, adherence, and viral failure is warranted as this may present an opportunity for early interventions to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the need for second-line treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:43:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-925ac92b34ec4b01a54a32112b0efbbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:43:20Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-925ac92b34ec4b01a54a32112b0efbbd2022-12-22T03:49:13ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01139e020379710.1371/journal.pone.0203797Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa.Kate ShearerDenise EvansBarbara XhosaKamban HirasenCraig BrackenKay MahomedLawrence LongMatthew P FoxBACKGROUND:Depression is a leading cause of disability and may be associated with decreased adherence to ART. We sought to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms and outcomes one year after screening among patients receiving ART at a large HIV Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS:Adult (≥18) patients who had been on first-line ART between 6-18 months who could communicate in English were eligible. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and a score ≥10 indicated depression. RESULTS:97 patients enrolled. Patients had been on ART for a median (IQR) of 8 (7-10) months, 61% were female, the median (IQR) age at enrollment was 38 (33-42) years, and the median (IQR) CD4 count at ART initiation was 154.5 (65-263) cells/mm3. 7 (7%) patients were found to have symptoms of depression; 4 (4%) had symptoms of moderate depression (PHQ score of 10-14) and 3 (3%) had symptoms of moderate/severe depression (PHQ score of 15-19). Women (10%) were more likely to have symptoms of depression than men (3%; prevalence difference [PD]: 7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]:-1.7%-16.8%); as were patients under the age of 30 (14%) compared to those 30-39 (4%; PD: -10.2; 95% CI: -29.4-9.0%) or ≥40 (9%; PD: -5.5%; -26.1%-15.2%), those with lower CD4 counts at ART initiation (<200 cells/mm3 vs ≥200 cells/mm3: 8% vs 3%; PD: 4.8%; 95% CI: -4.5%-14.0%), and those with high viral loads (>1000 copies/mL vs. <400 copies/mL: 40% vs. 5%; PD: 34.6%; 95% CI: -8.6%-77.6%). No relationship between depressive symptoms and retention in HIV care one year after screening was observed. CONCLUSIONS:We found a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to findings from other HIV-positive populations in South Africa but more than one-third of patients with an elevated viral load had evidence of depression. Further research on the relationship between depression, adherence, and viral failure is warranted as this may present an opportunity for early interventions to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the need for second-line treatment.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6155448?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Kate Shearer Denise Evans Barbara Xhosa Kamban Hirasen Craig Bracken Kay Mahomed Lawrence Long Matthew P Fox Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. PLoS ONE |
| title | Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| title_full | Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| title_fullStr | Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| title_short | Low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
| title_sort | low prevalence of depressive symptoms among stable patients on antiretroviral therapy in johannesburg south africa |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6155448?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kateshearer lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT deniseevans lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT barbaraxhosa lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT kambanhirasen lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT craigbracken lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT kaymahomed lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT lawrencelong lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica AT matthewpfox lowprevalenceofdepressivesymptomsamongstablepatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinjohannesburgsouthafrica |