Understanding HIV-Related Pill Aversion as a Distinct Barrier to Medication Adherence

Abstract

Pill aversion, defined as difficulty swallowing pills without identifiable medical cause, is a poorly characterized barrier to sustained viral suppression for many HIV-infected persons. We aimed to quantify the frequency of self-reported pill aversion, characterize its symptoms, and measure the association between self-reported pill aversion and missing antiretroviral doses. This is a prospective, observational, exploratory survey study of English-speaking persons living with HIV (PLHIV) at a single urban tertiary outpatient clinic. Participants completed anonymous questionnaires about their experiences of swallowing antiretroviral pills. The primary outcome was skipping pills due to pill aversion symptoms. Of 384 participants, a quarter (25.5%) skipped pills due to pill aversion symptoms. Younger age, being Non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, not being married or partnered, having public insurance, not being employed, having less than a college education, and having a mental health diagnosis were associated with skipping pills due to pill aversion. On multivariable regression analyses, PLHIV who skipped pills were more likely to report symptoms of gagging, nausea at the time of swallowing, and heavy feeling in the stomach, as well as being bothered by the taste, smell, and size of the pills. PLHIV who skipped pills were also more likely to report negative and fear-based emotions about pill-taking than PLHIV who did not skip pills due to pill aversion. HIV-related pill aversion may represent a significant and frequent barrier to adherence in an adult HIV population.     

Body composition and resting metabolic rate of perimenopausal women using continuous progestogen contraception

Objective The effect on body composition and in particular on fat mass (FM) of 12 months’ use of a desogestrel (DSG)-only contraceptive pill or the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) was evaluated in women in the perimenopause.

Methods An observational study comprised 102 perimenopausal women: 42 received a 75 μg DSG pill, 34 received the 52 mg LNG-IUS, and 26 received no treatment. Body composition, body weight and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were evaluated at baseline and again after 12 months.

Results FM did not change in the control group (? 0.5 ± 1.6%) but significantly increased in the LNG-IUS group (+ 1.1 ± 2.9%; p = 0.02 vs. controls) and in the DSG group (+ 2.8 ± 3.5%; p = 0.0001 vs. controls; p = 0.02 vs. LNG-IUS). Women treated with DSG or the LNG-IUS showed a non-significant increase in body weight, body mass index and waist circumference. RMR did not significantly vary in the control group (? 3.8 ± 292.9 kJ/ 24 h) and tended to decrease but not significantly in the LNG-IUS (115.5 ± 531.8 kJ/ 24 h) and DSG groups (305.9 ± 556.9 kJ/24 h).

Conclusions The results of this preliminary study seem to indicate that in perimenopausal women continuous use of the DSG-only pill and to a lesser extent the LNG-IUS may favour FM accumulation.     

Premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: Symptom trajectories over 13 years in young adults

Objectives

To ascertain the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea in Australia women and to examine whether there is population subgroups with distinct symptom trajectories.

Study design

A prospective cohort study, including 9671 young women random sampled from national Medicare database and followed up for 13 years, examined the prevalence, the trend and the symptom trajectories of the conditions.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of PMS and dysmenorrhea over time, their symptom trajectories, and the probability of symptom reporting at follow-up.

Results

The prevalence of PMS varied between 33 and 41% and that of dysmenorrhea between 21 and 26%. The probabilities of reporting PMS and dysmenorrhea were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73, 0.76) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.68, 0.72), respectively, among women who reported them in three previous consecutive surveys. Four unique trajectories were identified for both conditions. PMS was experienced by 80% of women some time during the study period, with normative (22.1%), late onset (21.9%), recovering (26.5%) and chronic (29.5%) groups revealed. Dysmenorrhea occurred in 60% of women with normative (38.3%), low (28.0%), recovering (17.2%) and chronic (16.5%) groups identified.

Conclusions

PMS and dysmenorrhea are common among young women. Both have relatively stable prevalence over time, but exhibit considerable variation at the individual level. Four subgroups of women who followed similar symptom trajectories were identified. PMS was experienced by 80% of women during the study period and it tended to be a long-lasting problem in many. Although 60% of women experienced dysmenorrhea, only a small group continuously reported it. Smoking and illicit drugs use, and smoking and obesity were more common among women with persistent PMS and dysmenorrhea respectively.     

摩罗丹浓缩丸治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎(胃阴不足兼胃络瘀血证)的前瞻性随机对照临床试验

目的评价摩罗丹浓缩丸治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎(chronic atrophic gastritis,CAG)的安全性及有效性。方法采用随机阳性药物平行对照临床试验设计,共纳入48例CAG受试者,随机分为摩罗丹浓缩组(简称试验组n=24)和摩罗丹蜜丸组(简称对照组n=24),疗程3月。结果试验组与对照组疗效比较,胃脘胀满愈显率分别为40.9%vs27.3%,总有效率分别为72.7%vs68.2%(P均>0.05),胃脘痛愈显率分别为54.5%vs40.9%,总有效率分别为72.7%vs72.7%(P均>0.05);中医证候疗效比较,两组愈显率分别为9.1%vs0%,总有效率分别为86.4%vs81.8%(P均>0.05)。胃镜复查有效率为31.8%vs18.2%(P均>0.05),病理复查炎症、萎缩、肠化的有效率分别为36.4%vs36.4%;54.6%vs63.6%;18.2%vs27.3%(P均>0.05)。两组之间均无不良反应发生。结论摩罗丹浓缩丸治疗CAG(胃阴不足兼胃络瘀血证)安全有效。     

当归拈痛丸的鉴别及黄芩苷的测定

目的 建立当归拈痛丸的鉴别和含量测定的方法.方法 采用TLC法对处方中的当归、苦参、苍术、葛根、羌活等进行定性鉴别;采用HPLC法测定黄芩中黄芩苷的含量.结果 TLC能检出处方中当归、苦参、苍术、葛根、羌活等;HPLC测定时,黄芩苷0.080～0.401 μg与峰面积呈良好的线性关系(r=0.9998),平均回收率为98.28%,RSD:1.01%.结论 所建方法准确可靠,能有效控制药品的质量.     

复方丹参滴丸对不稳定型心绞痛患者血浆内皮素和血小板α-膜颗粒蛋白的影响

目的观察复方丹参滴丸对不稳定型心绞痛患者的临床疗效及血浆内皮素（ET）和血小板α-膜颗粒蛋白（GMP-140）水平的影响。方法168例不稳定型心绞痛患者分为常规治疗组（79例）和复方丹参滴丸组（89例）。所有入选患者均接受硝酸酯类、美托洛尔（或钙拮抗剂）及阿司匹林治疗,复方丹参滴丸组在上述治疗基础上加用复方丹参滴丸10粒,每日3次,连用8周。观察统计两组治疗前1周和治疗结束后1周心绞痛发作次数及自拟的疼痛强度及持续时间记分值,检测治疗前后患者血浆ET和GMP-140水平的变化。结果复方丹参滴丸组和常规治疗组比较,治疗后疼痛发作频率、疼痛强度及持续时间记分均有明显减少,而复方丹参滴丸组的降低程度比常规治疗组明显（P〈0．05）。两组可改善不稳定型心绞痛患者心电图ST段的偏移,而复方丹参滴丸组的疗效比常规治疗组显著（P〈0．05）。两组治疗后血浆ET和GMP-140水平均明显减低,而复方丹参滴丸组的疗效比常规治疗组显著（P〈0．01）。结论复方丹参滴丸治疗不稳定型心绞痛患者疗效明显高于常规治疗,可能与改善血管内皮功能、抑制血小板聚集密切相关。     

保和丸联合辅酶A治疗脂肪肝的疗效对照研究

目的:研究保和丸联合辅酶A治疗脂肪肝的疗效.方法:以东宝肝泰联合辅酶A治疗为对照,对比两组的疗效率、生化指标和B超检查结果.结果:治疗组显效率为95%,明显高于对照组,其他各项指标也有明显差异性.结论:使用保和丸联合辅酶A治疗脂肪肝疗效较好且副作用小.     

肾康丸治疗慢性肾小球肾炎的临床研究

目的观察肾康丸治疗慢性肾小球肾炎的临床疗效。方法将60例慢性肾小球肾炎患者随机分为2组,对照组30例予西医常规治疗,治疗组30例在对照组治疗基础上加用肾康丸（每次6g,每日3次口服）。2组均治疗12周后统计疗效。观察2组临床疗效,并观察2组治疗前后24h尿白蛋白定量、血浆纤维蛋白原（FIB）、血肌酐（Cr）的变化情况。结果2组临床疗效比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,治疗组优于对照组;治疗组治疗后24h尿蛋白定量、血浆FIB、Cr与本组治疗前及对照组治疗后比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,治疗组在减轻24h尿蛋白定量、降低FIB和Cr方面优于对照组。结论肾康丸能显著改善慢性肾小球肾炎患者血液高黏滞状态,减少尿蛋白,改善肾功能,有助于延缓慢性肾小球肾炎的进展。     

萸竹定眩丸治疗颈性眩晕短期疗效观察

目的:观察萸竹定眩丸治疗颈性眩晕的短期疗效。方法:将河南省中医院脊柱科门诊收治的80例患者随机分为对照组和观察组,各40例。对照组服用盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊治疗,治疗组在服用盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊基础上加服萸竹定眩丸治疗。每组疗程均为4周1个疗程,1个疗程后根据改良Macnab标准评估临床疗效。结果:治疗组40例中优4例,良28例,可6例,差2例,有效率80%(32/40);对照组中优1例,良21例,可8例,差10例,有效率55%(22/40),两组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊治疗颈性眩晕能取得一定临床疗效,但盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊联合萸竹定眩丸临床疗效更显著。