Browsing by Author "Crabtree Ramírez, Brenda"

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    Comorbidities and HIV-related factors associated with mental health symptoms and unhealthy substance use among older adults living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study
    (Wiley, 2025) Ross, Jeremy L.; Rupasinghe, Dhanushi; Chanyachukul, Thida; Crabtree Ramírez, Brenda; Murenzi, Gad; Kwobah, Edith; Mureithi, Fiona; Minga, Albert; Marbaniang, Ivan; Perazzo, Hugo; Parcesepe, Angela; Goodrich, Suzanne; Chimbetete, Cleophas; Mensah, Ephrem; Maruri, Fernanda; Nguyen, Dung Thi Hoai; López-Iñiguez, Alvaro; Lancaster, Kathryn; Byakwaga, Helen; Tlali, Mpho; Plaisy, Marie K.; Nimkar, Smita; Moreira, Rodrigo; Anastos, Kathryn; Semeere, Aggrey; Wandeler, Gilles; Jaquet, Antoine; Sohn, Annette; Sentinel Research Network of the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: People with HIV (PWH) are vulnerable to mental health and substance use disorders (MSDs), but the extent to which these are associated with other non-communicable diseases in ageing PWH populations remains poorly documented. We assessed comorbidities associated with symptoms of MSD among PWH ≥40 years in the Sentinel Research Network (SRN) of the International epidemiology Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). Methods: Baseline data collected between June 2020 and September 2022, from 10 HIV clinics in Asia, Latin America and Africa contributing to the SRN, were analysed. Symptoms of MSDs and comorbidities were assessed using standardized questionnaires, anthropometric and laboratory tests, including weight, height, blood pressure, glucose, lipids, chronic viral hepatitis and liver transient elastography. HIV viral load, CD4 count and additional routine clinical data were accessed from participant interview or medical records. HIV and non-HIV clinical associations of mental illness symptoms and unhealthy substance use were analysed using logistic regression. Mental illness symptoms were defined as moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score >9), moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 >9) or probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 >32). Unhealthy substance use was defined as ASSIST score >3, or AUDIT ≥7 for women (≥8 for men). Results: Of 2614 participants assessed at baseline study visits, 57% were female, median age was 50 years, median CD4 was 548 cells/mm3 and 86% had HIV viral load <1000 copies/ml. Overall, 19% had mental illness symptoms, 15% unhealthy substance use, 49% BMI >25 kg/m2, 38% hypertension, 15% type 2 diabetes, 35% dyslipidaemia, 34% liver disease and 23% history of tuberculosis. BMI >25 and dyslipidaemia were found in 54% and 40% of those with mental illness symptoms compared to 49% and 34% of those without. Mental illness symptoms were not significantly associated with the clinical factors assessed. Unhealthy substance use was more likely among those with dyslipidaemia (OR 1.55, CI 1.16-2.09, p = 0.003), and less likely in those with BMI >25 (OR 0.48, CI 0.30-0.77, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Improved integration of MSD and comorbidity services in HIV clinical settings, and further research on the association between MSD and comorbidities, and care integration among older PWH in low-middle-income countries, are required.
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    Service delivery challenges in HIV care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a site assessment survey across the global IeDEA consortium
    (Wiley, 2022) Brazier, Ellen; Ajeh, Rogers; Maruri, Fernanda; Musick, Beverly; Freeman, Aimee; Wester, C. William; Lee, Man-Po; Shamu, Tinei; Crabtree Ramírez, Brenda; d’Almeida, Marcelline; Wools-Kaloustian, Kara; Kumarasamy, N.; Althoff, Keri N.; Twizere, Christella; Grinsztejn, Beatriz; Tanser, Frank; Messou, Eugène; Byakwaga, Helen; Duda, Stephany N.; Nash, Denis; International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS; Biostatistics, School of Public Health
    Introduction: Interruptions in treatment pose risks for people with HIV (PWH) and threaten progress in ending the HIV epidemic; however, the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on HIV service delivery across diverse settings is not broadly documented. Methods: From September 2020 to March 2021, the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) research consortium surveyed 238 HIV care sites across seven geographic regions to document constraints in HIV service delivery during the first year of the pandemic and strategies for ensuring care continuity for PWH. Descriptive statistics were stratified by national HIV prevalence (<1%, 1-4.9% and ≥5%) and country income levels. Results: Questions about pandemic-related consequences for HIV care were completed by 225 (95%) sites in 42 countries with low (n = 82), medium (n = 86) and high (n = 57) HIV prevalence, including low- (n = 57), lower-middle (n = 79), upper-middle (n = 39) and high- (n = 50) income countries. Most sites reported being subject to pandemic-related restrictions on travel, service provision or other operations (75%), and experiencing negative impacts (76%) on clinic operations, including decreased hours/days, reduced provider availability, clinic reconfiguration for COVID-19 services, record-keeping interruptions and suspension of partner support. Almost all sites in low-prevalence and high-income countries reported increased use of telemedicine (85% and 100%, respectively), compared with less than half of sites in high-prevalence and lower-income settings. Few sites in high-prevalence settings (2%) reported suspending antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic services, and many reported adopting mitigation strategies to support adherence, including multi-month dispensing of ART (95%) and designating community ART pick-up points (44%). While few sites (5%) reported stockouts of first-line ART regimens, 10-11% reported stockouts of second- and third-line regimens, respectively, primarily in high-prevalence and lower-income settings. Interruptions in HIV viral load (VL) testing included suspension of testing (22%), longer turnaround times (41%) and supply/reagent stockouts (22%), but did not differ across settings. Conclusions: While many sites in high HIV prevalence settings and lower-income countries reported introducing or expanding measures to support treatment adherence and continuity of care, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions to VL testing and ART supply chains that may negatively affect the quality of HIV care in these settings.