title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in HIV-infected subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the characteristics of HIV-infected subjects who had ever used with those who had never used Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The European Level Epidemiology of Complementary Therapies in HIV project (ELECTHIV 2), a case-control study, was conducted in seven European countries. All HIV-infected subjects who consecutively attended the offices of the collaborating organizations were eligible for this study. Information was obtained from self-administered, anonymous questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1066 subjects entered the study: 632 were CAM users and 434 had never used CAM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAM use was more common among females than males (odds ratio (OR) 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.2) and in more educated subjects. CAM use was less common among subjects taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8), but was more common in outpatients who reported HAART-related side effects (specifically neuropathy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that CAM use in HIV-infected subjects is related to female gender, higher levels of education and longer duration of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: LILA (Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l'AIDS), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agnoletto
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiaffarino
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nasta
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents