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Association between depressive symptoms, CD4 count and HIV viral suppression among HIV-HCV co-infected people

Wusiman Aibibula1, Joseph Cox1,2,3, Anne-Marie Hamelin1

  • 1a Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health , McGill University , Montreal , QC , Canada.

AIDS Care
|January 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Depressive symptoms increase the risk of detectable HIV viral load in people with HIV-HCV co-infection. Screening for depression may improve HIV viral suppression and reduce transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Public health
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Depressive symptoms negatively impact HIV viral control and immune recovery.
  • Previous research has not exclusively examined this link in HIV-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection.
  • HIV-HCV co-infected individuals may be more vulnerable to depressive symptoms' health effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between depressive symptoms and HIV viral load control.
  • To investigate the impact of depressive symptoms on CD4 count in HIV-HCV co-infected individuals.
  • To determine if depressive symptoms pose a risk for incomplete HIV viral suppression in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Canadian Co-Infection Cohort (CCC) FS Sub-Study.
  • Employed a stabilized inverse probability weighted marginal structural model.
  • Analyzed data from 725 participants enrolled between 2012 and 2015.

Main Results:

  • 52% of participants reported depressive symptoms at baseline.
  • Individuals with depressive symptoms had a 1.32 times higher risk of detectable HIV viral load.
  • No significant difference in CD4 count was observed between those with and without depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Depressive symptoms are a risk factor for incomplete short-term HIV viral suppression in HIV-HCV co-infected individuals.
  • Screening for and counseling on depressive symptoms could enhance HIV health outcomes.
  • Intervention may contribute to reduced HIV transmission rates.

Keywords:
CD4 countHIV viral loadHIV-HCV co-infectiondepressive symptomsmarginal structural model

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