HIV or HIV-therapy? Causal attributions of symptoms and their impact on treatment decisions among women and men with HIV

Abstract

Objectives: Among people with HIV, we examined symptom attribution to HIV of HIV-therapy, awareness of potential side effects and discontinuation of treatment, as well as sex/gender differences. Methods: HIV-patients (N = 168, 46% female) completed a comprehensive symptom checklist (attributing each endorsed symptom to HIV, HIV-therapy, or other causes), reported reasons for treatment discontinuations and potential ART-related laboratory abnormalities. Results: Main symptom areas were fatigue/sleep/energy, depression/mood, lipodystrophy, and gastrointestinal, dermatological, and neurological problems. Top HIV-attributed symptoms were lack of stamina/energy in both genders, night sweats, depression, mood swings in women; and fatigue, lethargy, difficulties concentrating in men. Women attributed symptoms less frequently to HIV than men, particularly fatigue (p