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Feb 5, 2014Article Details
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Main Article Content
Maintaining wellbeing for South Africans receiving ART: The burden of pain and symptoms is greater with longer ART exposure
Abstract
Objective. To measure the seven-day period prevalence, burden and correlates of pain and other physical and psychological symptoms among HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Methods. This was a cross-sectional self-report study. A total of 378 patients were interviewed using validated tools in three South African public sector clinics.
Results. The most prevalent symptoms were feeling sad (64%), feeling irritable (61.6%), worry (60.8%), numbness and tingling in hands/ feet (59.8%), and sexual problems (51%). In multivariate analysis, later disease stage was associated with worse psychological symptom burden (β=0.359; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.202 - 0.516; p≤0.001), global symptom burden (β=0.365; 95% CI 0.204 - 0.526; p<0.001) and number of symptoms (β=0.308; 95% CI 0.150 - 0.465; p<0.001). Those receiving treatment for a greater number of years also reported higher burden for physical (β=0.083; 95% CI 0.037 - 0.129; p≤0.001), psychological (β=0.068; 95% CI 0.019 - 0.117; p=0.007) and global symptoms (β=0.065; 95% CI 0.016 - 0.115; p=0.010), and a greater number of symptoms (β=0.081; 95% CI 0.032 - 0.130; p=0.001).
Conclusions. The data reveal a high symptom burden despite treatment. Detailed symptom assessment and control continues to be required in the era of treatment.
