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Relationship Between Polypharmacy and Quality of Life Among People in 24 Countries Living With HIV

PEER REVIEWED


Figure 1.

Comparison of prevalence of subjective measures of overall well-being by polypharmacy status, people from 24 countries who were living with HIV (N = 2,112), Positive Perspectives survey. Polypharmacy was defined as taking 5 or more pills per day for HIV or non-HIV conditions, or taking medicines currently for 5 or more conditions, including HIV. All differences between people with a report of polypharmacy compared with those not reporting polypharmacy were significant at P< .05. Brackets indicate standard errors.

Comparison of prevalence of subjective measures of overall well-being by polypharmacy status, people from 24 countries who were living with HIV (N = 2,112), Positive Perspectives survey. Polypharmacy was defined as taking 5 or more pills per day for HIV or non-HIV conditions, or taking medicines currently for 5 or more conditions, including HIV. All differences between people with a report of polypharmacy compared with those not reporting polypharmacy were significant at P< .05. Brackets indicate standard errors.
Characteristics Polypharmacy Absent, % (Standard Error) Polypharmacy Present, % (Standard Error)
All participants (N = 2,112)
Optimal overall health 62.6 (1.4) 46.6 (1.7)
Optimal mental health 62.9 (1.4) 46.9 (1.7)
Optimal sexual health 54.5 (1.4) 36.2 (1.6)
Optimal physical health 68.1 (1.3) 44.7 (1.7)
Treatment satisfaction 73.1 (1.3) 65.2 (1.6)
Undetectable viral load 75.0 (1.2) 69.7 (1.5)
Virally suppressed (n = 1,536)
Optimal overall health 65.0 (1.6) 48.7 (2.0)
Optimal mental health 63.1 (1.6) 53.9 (2.0)
Optimal sexual health 55.0 (1.6) 38.6 (2.0)
Optimal physical health 71.5 (1.5) 49.0 (2.0)
Treatment satisfaction 73.5 (1.5) 69.5 (1.9)
Virally unsuppressed (n = 576)
Optimal overall health 55.4 (2.9) 41.8 (3.0)
Optimal mental health 62.3 (2.8) 31.0 (2.8)
Optimal sexual health 53.1 (2.9) 30.6 (2.8)
Optimal physical health 57.7 (2.8) 34.7 (2.9)
Treatment satisfaction 71.8 (2.6) 55.2 (3.0)

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Figure 2.

Perceived treatment priorities at initiation of antiretroviral therapy and at the time of the Positive Perspectives survey among treatment experienced people from 24 countries who had been living with HIV for 2 years or longer (n = 1,624), 2019.

Perceived treatment priorities at initiation of antiretroviral therapy and at the time of the Positive Perspectives survey among treatment experienced people from 24 countries who had been living with HIV for 2 years or longer (n = 1,624), 2019.
Characteristic Rated Issue Important at Time of ART Initiation, % Rated Issue Important at Time of Survey, %
Allow me to have children 13.7 17.0
Cost of the medication 23.7 27.2
Availability in my public health facility 28.5 34.2
Compatibility with other medications/drugs/pills 32.3 42.9
Flexibility as to when I have to take the medication 36.3 44.7
Keep the number of HIV medicines in my treatment to a minimum 34.8 49.8
Minimize the long-term impact of HIV treatment 44.3 60.4
Ensure virus was suppressed so that I could not pass it on to a partner 47.0 58.2
Manage symptoms or illnesses caused by HIV 53.8 55.4
Ensure side effects would be minimal 55.4 66.8

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