Alcohol effect on HIV-positive individuals: treatment and quality of life

A cross-sectional study investigated 114 people with HIV using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), a Questionnaire to Assess the Compliance to Antiretroviral Treatment (CEAT-VIH), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument - HIV Bref (WHOQOL-HIV Bref).

Results

Adequate adherence to therapy (63.2%) and low alcohol consumption (89.4%) were observed. There was a significant association between the harmful use of alcohol and the past history of use of this substance (p=0.03). The Physical (p=0.01) and Social Relations (p=0.01) domains of quality of life were affected by at-risk alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

Low alcohol use did not have negative repercussions on adherence to antiretroviral therapy; however, the harmful use of alcohol altered domains of quality of life.

HIV; Alcoholism/therapy; Alcoholism/complications; Quality of life; Antiretroviral therapy, highly active

Sociodemographic and clinical variables	AUDIT Classification		p-value*	Odds Ratio (CI 95%)†
Sociodemographic and clinical variables	Low risk n(%)	Use of Risk n(%)	p-value*	Odds Ratio (CI 95%)†
Gender
Male	54(52.9)	8(66.7)	0.37	1.7(0.5-6.2)
Female	48(47.1)	4(33.3)	0.37	1.7(0.5-6.2)
Age (years)
≤50	90(88.2)	12(100)	0.40	3.4(0.1-62.0)
>50	12(11.8)	0(0.0)	0.40	3.4(0.1-62.0)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	74(72.5)	11(91.7)	0.18	4.1(0.5-33.7)
Homo/bisexual	28(27.5)	1(8.3)	0.18	4.1(0.5-33.7)
Number of years of study
≤8	26(25.5)	5(41.7)	0.24	2.0(0.6-7.1)
>8	76(74.5)	7(58.3)	0.24	2.0(0.6-7.1)
Skin color
Brown	56(54.9)	7(68.6)	0.82	1.5(0.3-3.8)
Non-brown	46(45.1)	5(31.4)	0.82	1.5(0.3-3.8)
Family income (minimum salaries)‡
≤2	62(60.8)	7(58.3)	0.21	0.46(1.3-1.5)
>2	40(39.2)	5(41.7)	0.21	0.46(1.3-1.5)
Religion
Yes	95(93.1)	11(91.7)	0.85	0.81(0.09-7.2)
No	7(6.9)	1(8.3)	0.85	0.81(0.09-7.2)
Functional situation
With income	70(68.6)	11(91.7)	0.12	5.0(0.62-40.6)
With no income	32(31.4)	1(8.3)	0.12	5.0(0.62-40.6)
Past history of alcohol use
Yes	42(41.2)	9(75.0)	0.03	4.2(1.1-16.7)
No	60(58.8)	3(25.0)	0.03	4.2(1.1-16.7)
Illicit drugs use history
Yes	17(16.7)	5(41.7)	0.04	3.5(1.0-12.6)
No	85(83.3)	7(58.3)	0.04	3.5(1.0-12.6)
Viral load (copies/ml)
<10.000	99(97.1)	12(100)	0.93	0.8(0.04-18.0)
≥10.000	3(2.9)	0(0.0)	0.93	0.8(0.04-18.0)
CD4+ T cells (cells/mm³)
≤200	10(9.8)	3(25.0)	0.13	3.0(0.7-13.2)
>200	92(90.2)	9(75.0)	0.13	3.0(0.7-13.2)
Antiretroviral therapy time (months)
<12	12(11.8)	1(8.3)	0.72	0.6(0.08-5.76)
≥12	90(88.2)	11(91.7)	0.72	0.6(0.08-5.76)

Domains of WHOQOL-HIV Bref*	Mean± Standarddeviation	Median	Minimum Value	Maximum Value	Cronbach’s alpha
Physical	16.00±3.57	17.00	5.00	20.00	0.702
Psychological	15.83±2.64	16.80	7.20	20.00	0.598
Level of Independence	15.00±2.55	15.00	7.00	20.00	0.500
Social Relations	16.00±3.13	16.00	6.00	20.00	0.718
Environment	15.00±2.68	15.00	7.00	20.00	0.770
Spirituality/Religion/Beliefs	16.00±3.92	16.50	5.00	20.00	0.669

Domains do WHOQOL-HIV Bref	AUDIT	n	Mean ± standard deviation	p-value*
I -Physical	Low risk	102	16.3±3.3	0.01
I -Physical	At-risk use	12	13.1±4.3	0.01
II -Psychological	Low risk	102	15.9±2.4	0.15
II -Psychological	At-risk use	12	14.4±3.8	0.15
III -Level of independence	Low risk	102	15.1±2.5	0.14
III -Level of independence	At-risk use	12	14.1±2.0	0.14
IV -Social relations	Low risk	102	16.1±2.8	0.01
IV -Social relations	At-risk use	12	13.0±3.9	0.01
V -Environment	Low risk	102	15.0±2.6	0.71
V -Environment	At-risk use	12	13.0±2.9	0.71
VI -Spirituality/religion/beliefs	Low risk	102	15.9±3.7	0.11
VI -Spirituality/religion/beliefs	At-risk use	12	13.8±4.9	0.11

Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo R. Napoleão de Barros, 754, 04024-002 São Paulo - SP/Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 5576 4430 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Vanessa da Frota Santos. Alexandre Baraúna 1115, 60430-160, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. doutorandavanessasantos@outlook.com