Use of complementary and alternative medicine in HIV-infected subjects.
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.
Agnoletto
Vittorio
V
LILA (Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l'AIDS), Milan, Italy.
Chiaffarino
Francesca
F
Nasta
Paola
P
Rossi
Roberto
R
Parazzini
Fabio
F
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
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents