HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Among people with HIV, we examined symptom attribution to HIV or HIV-therapy, awareness of potential side effects and discontinuation of treatment, as well as sex/gender differences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HIV-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2009-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.eurjmedres.com/content/14/4/139 |
| _version_ | 1819178806993223680 |
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| author | Kremer H Sonnenberg-Schwan U Arendt G Brockmeyer NH Potthoff A Ulmer A Graefe K Lorenzen T Starke W Walker UA |
| author_facet | Kremer H Sonnenberg-Schwan U Arendt G Brockmeyer NH Potthoff A Ulmer A Graefe K Lorenzen T Starke W Walker UA |
| author_sort | Kremer H |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Among people with HIV, we examined symptom attribution to HIV or HIV-therapy, awareness of potential side effects and discontinuation of treatment, as well as sex/gender differences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HIV-patients (N = 168, 46% female) completed a comprehensive symptom checklist (attributing each endorsed symptom to HIV, HIV-therapy, or other causes), reported reasons for treatment discontinuations and potential ART-related laboratory abnormalities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Main symptom areas were fatigue/sleep/energy, depression/mood, lipodystrophy, and gastrointestinal, dermatological, and neurological problems.</p> <p>Top HIV-attributed symptoms were lack of stamina/energy in both genders, night sweats, depression, mood swings in women; and fatigue, lethargy, difficulties concentrating in men. Women attributed symptoms less frequently to HIV than men, particularly fa-tigue(p < .01).</p> <p>Top treatment-attributed symptoms were lipodystrophy and gastrointestinal problems in both genders. Symptom attribution to HIV-therapy did not differ between genders.</p> <p>Over the past six months, 22% switched/interrupted ART due to side effects. In women, side effect-related treatment decisions were more complex, involving more side effects and substances. Remarkably, women took predominantly protease inhibitor-sparing regimens (p = .05).</p> <p>Both genders reported only 15% of potential ART-related laboratory abnormalities but more than 50% had laboratory abnormalities. Notably, women had fewer elevated renal parameters (p < .01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Men may attribute symptoms more often to HIV and maintain a treatment-regimen despite side effects, whereas women may be more prudent in avoiding treatment side effects. Lacking awareness of laboratory abnormalities in both genders potentially indicates gaps in physician-patient communication. Gender differences in causal attributions of symptoms/side effects may influence treatment decisions.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:48:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc1dcbdfa71f4258be3cb5192231281b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:48:25Z |
| publishDate | 2009-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc1dcbdfa71f4258be3cb5192231281b2022-12-21T18:11:26ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2009-04-0114413910.1186/2047-783X-14-4-139HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIVKremer HSonnenberg-Schwan UArendt GBrockmeyer NHPotthoff AUlmer AGraefe KLorenzen TStarke WWalker UA<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Among people with HIV, we examined symptom attribution to HIV or HIV-therapy, awareness of potential side effects and discontinuation of treatment, as well as sex/gender differences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HIV-patients (N = 168, 46% female) completed a comprehensive symptom checklist (attributing each endorsed symptom to HIV, HIV-therapy, or other causes), reported reasons for treatment discontinuations and potential ART-related laboratory abnormalities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Main symptom areas were fatigue/sleep/energy, depression/mood, lipodystrophy, and gastrointestinal, dermatological, and neurological problems.</p> <p>Top HIV-attributed symptoms were lack of stamina/energy in both genders, night sweats, depression, mood swings in women; and fatigue, lethargy, difficulties concentrating in men. Women attributed symptoms less frequently to HIV than men, particularly fa-tigue(p < .01).</p> <p>Top treatment-attributed symptoms were lipodystrophy and gastrointestinal problems in both genders. Symptom attribution to HIV-therapy did not differ between genders.</p> <p>Over the past six months, 22% switched/interrupted ART due to side effects. In women, side effect-related treatment decisions were more complex, involving more side effects and substances. Remarkably, women took predominantly protease inhibitor-sparing regimens (p = .05).</p> <p>Both genders reported only 15% of potential ART-related laboratory abnormalities but more than 50% had laboratory abnormalities. Notably, women had fewer elevated renal parameters (p < .01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Men may attribute symptoms more often to HIV and maintain a treatment-regimen despite side effects, whereas women may be more prudent in avoiding treatment side effects. Lacking awareness of laboratory abnormalities in both genders potentially indicates gaps in physician-patient communication. Gender differences in causal attributions of symptoms/side effects may influence treatment decisions.</p>http://www.eurjmedres.com/content/14/4/139HIVantiretroviral treatmentgendercausal attributionsymptomsside effects |
| spellingShingle | Kremer H Sonnenberg-Schwan U Arendt G Brockmeyer NH Potthoff A Ulmer A Graefe K Lorenzen T Starke W Walker UA HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV European Journal of Medical Research HIV antiretroviral treatment gender causal attribution symptoms side effects |
| title | HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV |
| title_full | HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV |
| title_fullStr | HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV |
| title_full_unstemmed | HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV |
| title_short | HIV or HIV-Therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV |
| title_sort | hiv or hiv therapy causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with hiv |
| topic | HIV antiretroviral treatment gender causal attribution symptoms side effects |
| url | http://www.eurjmedres.com/content/14/4/139 |
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