Cause-Specific Life Expectancies After 35 Years of Age for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Infected and Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Negative Individuals Followed Simultaneously in Long-Term Cohort Studies, 1984-2008.

Cause-Specific Life Expectancies After 35 Years of Age for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Infected and Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Negative Individuals Followed Simultaneously in Long-term Cohort Studies, 1984-2008.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jan 3;
Wada N, Jacobson LP, Cohen M, French A, Phair J, Muñoz A

Parametric and semiparametric competing risks methods were used to estimate proportions, timing, and predictors of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related and non-AIDS-related mortality among individuals both positive and negative for the human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) from 1984 to 2008 and 1996 to 2008, respectively. Among HIV-positive MACS participants, the proportion of deaths unrelated to AIDS increased from 6% before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (before 1996) to 53% in the HAART era (P < 0.01); the median age of persons who died from non-AIDS-related causes after age 35 years increased from 49.0 to 66.0 years (P < 0.01). In both cohorts during the HAART era, median ages at time of non-AIDS-related death were younger for HIV-positive individuals than for comparable HIV-negative individuals (8.7 years younger in MACS (P < 0.01) and 7.6 years younger in WIHS (P < 0.01)). In a multivariate proportional cause-specific hazards model, unemployment (for non-AIDS death, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8; for AIDS death, HR = 2.3), depression (for non-AIDS death, HR = 1.4; for AIDS death, HR = 1.4), and hepatitis B or C infection (for non-AIDS death, HR = 1.8, for AIDS death; HR = 1.4) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with higher hazards of both non-AIDS and AIDS mortality among HIV-positive individuals in the HAART era, independent of study cohort. The results illuminate the changing face of mortality among the growing population infected with HIV. HubMed – depression

Invited Commentary: Prevailing Over Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jan 3;
Coughlin SS

The causal and noncausal associations that account for linkages between depressive symptoms and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome are complex and not completely understood. Depression is a common mental health condition that affects approximately 20%-30% of persons receiving HIV medical care. Those suffering from depressive symptoms may be more apt to abuse alcohol or other substances and to have difficulties with adherence to treatment regimens over long periods of time. Persons living with HIV who are effectively treated for their depression are more likely to adhere to antiretroviral therapy over time and to enjoy better health and improved quality of life. The article by Wada et al. in this issue of the Journal (Am J Epidemiol. 2013;000(0):000-000) provides an important look at the long-term survival experiences of men and women who participated in 2 major epidemiologic studies of HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Long-term follow-up studies such as that by Wada et al. highlight not only the mortality experience of vulnerable groups of people but also their profound resiliency and ability to prevail over personal challenges, such as poverty and unemployment, and health conditions, such as HIV and depression.
HubMed – depression

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