RESUMEN

The objective of this article is to assess the knowledge about HIV/aids in middle aged acquaintance group participants from the Vale do Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A prospective cross-sectional study with 168 individuals (9.5% male and 90.5% female) between 40 and 59 years of age was performed. A questionnaire comprising questions about the concept, transmission, vulnerability, prevention, and treatment domains on HIV issues was constructed. It was observed that 61.3% of the sample had finished elementary education and 45.2% had a monthly income ranging from 1 to 3 minimum wages. In the conceptual domain, 65.2% did not know that HIV infection has an asymptomatic phase and 34.5% believed HIV could be transmitted by a mosquito bite. In prevention and vulnerability domains, 19.5% had no knowledge about female condoms and 29.2% believed that the disease was confined to specific groups. Regarding to antiretroviral treatment, 12.5% had no idea about its existence. According to findings, middle aged participants from acquaintance groups in Vale do Sinos had misconceptions about HIV/aids which might enhance the risk of infection. Therefore it is necessary to provide public health programs directed to this population group in order to prevent or decrease the risk of HIV transmission.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o nível de conhecimento sobre HIV/aids nos indivíduos de meia idade, participantes de grupos de convivência do Vale do Sinos (RS). O estudo caracterizou-se como transversal, obtendo-se uma amostra de 168 indivíduos, sendo 9,5 por cento homens e 90,5 por cento mulheres, na faixa etária entre 40 e 59 anos. Utilizou-se como instrumento um questionário composto pelos domínios "conceito", "transmissão", "vulnerabilidade", "prevenção" e "tratamento". O ensino fundamental caracterizou 61,3 por cento da escolaridade dos participantes e a renda mensal situou-se entre um e três salários mínimos para 45,2 por cento. No domínio "conceito", 65,2 por cento desconheciam a fase assintomática da infecção e 34,5 por cento apontaram o mosquito como transmissor da aids, no domínio "transmissão". Nos domínios "prevenção" e "vulnerabilidade", 19,5 por cento desconheciam a existência do preservativo feminino e 29,2 por cento acreditaram que a doença é característica de grupos específicos. Quanto ao "tratamento", 12,5 por cento ignoraram a sua existência. De acordo com os achados, os indivíduos da meia idade participantes de grupos de convivência do Vale do Sinos tinham conceitos errôneos sobre HIV/aids que poderiam aumentar o risco à infecção. Sendo assim, é necessário proporcionar programas de saúde pública direcionados para esta população para prevenir ou diminuir o risco de transmissão do HIV.

The objective of this article is to assess the knowledge about HIV/aids in middle aged acquaintance group participants from the Vale do Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A prospective cross-sectional study with 168 individuals (9.5 percent male and 90.5 percent female) between 40 and 59 years of age was performed. A questionnaire comprising questions about the concept, transmission, vulnerability, prevention, and treatment domains on HIV issues was constructed. It was observed that 61.3 percent of the sample had finished elementary education and 45.2 percent had a monthly income ranging from 1 to 3 minimum wages. In the conceptual domain, 65.2 percent did not know that HIV infection has an asymptomatic phase and 34.5 percent believed HIV could be transmitted by a mosquito bite. In prevention and vulnerability domains, 19.5 percent had no knowledge about female condoms and 29.2 percent believed that the disease was confined to specific groups. Regarding to antiretroviral treatment, 12.5 percent had no idea about its existence. According to findings, middle aged participants from acquaintance groups in Vale do Sinos had misconceptions about HIV/aids which might enhance the risk of infection. Therefore it is necessary to provide public health programs directed to this population group in order to prevent or decrease the risk of HIV transmission.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Um dos fenômenos mais atuais da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) é o surgimento de uma nova população vulnerável: os idosos. Um dos fatores responsáveis por este aumento é o desenvolvimento da terapia antirretroviral combinada (TARV), que tem proporcionado uma melhor qualidade e expectativa de vida do portador de HIV. Entretanto, a TARV está associada a efeitos adversos como dislipidemia, diabete melito e resistência à insulina, os quais se constituem como fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular. Com o impacto da TARV no metabolismo glicídico e lipídico, surgiram muitos estudos associando a infecção pelo HIV e a doença cardiovascular, assim como, os seus fatores de risco e a utilização da TARV, porém, poucos deles relatam sobre a cardiotoxicidade desta Terapia em idosos. Este artigo tem o objetivo de revisar as principais alterações metabólicas causadas pelo uso da terapia antirretroviral e o seu impacto no aumento do risco de doenças cardiovasculares nos idosos portadores de HIV.

One of the most recent phenomena related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the emergence of a new vulnerable population: the elderly. One of the factors that account for this increase is the development of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), which has provided better quality of life and life expectancy for HIV-positive patients. However, ART is associated with adverse effects such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Due to the impact of ART on lipid and glucose metabolism, many studies were published involving HIV infection and cardiovascular disease, as well as their risk factors and the use of ART, but few of them reported on the cardiotoxicity of this therapy in the elderly. The objective of this study is to review the main metabolic changes caused by the use of antiretroviral therapy and its impact on an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in elderly people with HIV.

Uno de los fenómenos más actuales del síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) es el surgimiento de una nueva población vulnerable: los adultos mayores. Uno de los factores responsables de este incremento es el desarrollo de la terapia antirretroviral combinada (TARV), que ha proporcionado una mejor calidad y expectativa de vida del portador de VIH. Sin embargo, la TARV está asociada a efectos adversos como dislipidemia, diabetes melito y resistencia a la insulina, los que se constituyen como factores de enfermedad para riesgo cardiovascular. Con el impacto de la TARV en el metabolismo glucídico y lipídico, surgieron muchos estudios asociando la infección por el riesgo y la enfermedad cardiovascular, así como, sus factores de VIH y la utilización de la TARV, sin embargo, pocos de ellos relatan sobre la cardiotoxicidad de esta terapia en adultos mayores. Este artículo tiene por objeto revisar las principales alteraciones metabólicas causadas por el uso de la terapia antirretroviral y su impacto en el aumento del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares en los adultos mayores portadores de VIH.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

One of the most recent phenomena related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the emergence of a new vulnerable population: the elderly. One of the factors that account for this increase is the development of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), which has provided better quality of life and life expectancy for HIV-positive patients. However, ART is associated with adverse effects such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Due to the impact of ART on lipid and glucose metabolism, many studies were published involving HIV infection and cardiovascular disease, as well as their risk factors and the use of ART, but few of them reported on the cardiotoxicity of this therapy in the elderly. The objective of this study is to review the main metabolic changes caused by the use of antiretroviral therapy and its impact on an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in elderly people with HIV.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o conhecimento sobre HIV/aids dos participantes de grupos de convivência do Vale do Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo caracterizou-se como transversal, obtendo-se uma amostra de 510 pessoas, sendo 17,5 por cento homens e 82,5 por cento mulheres, na faixa etária entre 60-90 anos. Utilizou-se o questionário sobre HIV para terceira idade, que abrange características gerais dos participantes e questões relativas à aids, organizadas nos domínios "conceito", "transmissão", "prevenção", "vulnerabilidade" e "tratamento". Quase metade (48,4 por cento) dos participantes relatou ter cursado de quatro a sete anos de estudo e a renda mensal de 52,2 por cento foi de um a três salários mínimos. Nos domínios "conceito" e "transmissão", 49,4 por cento desconheciam a fase assintomática da infecção pelo HIV e 41,4 por cento acreditavam que a aids poderia ser transmitida pelo mosquito. No âmbito dos domínios "prevenção" e "vulnerabilidade", 25,5 por cento não sabiam da existência da camisinha feminina e 36,9 por cento consideravam a aids uma síndrome somente de homens que fazem sexo com homens, profissionais do sexo e usuários de drogas. Quanto ao "tratamento", 12,2 por cento ignoravam a sua existência. Constataram-se lacunas no conhecimento sobre HIV/aids na amostra avaliada, demonstrando a necessidade de programas de saúde pública que visem à elucidação das principais dúvidas.

The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge about HIV/AIDS in participants of companionship groups in the Vale do Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It was a prospective cross-sectional study in a sample of 510 individuals, 17 percent males and 82.5 percent females aged between 60 and 90 years. We used the Questionnaire on HIV for the Old Aged, which comprises the general characteristics of the participants and questions concerning HIV/AIDS, organized into the elements 'concept', 'transmission', 'prevention', 'vulnerability', and 'treatment'. Nearly half of the participants (48.4 percent) reported having studied 4 to 7 years and the monthly income of 52.2 percent was of 1 to 3 minimum wages. In the dimensions concept and transmission, 49.4 percent had no idea about the asymptomatic phase of the infection, and 41.4 percent believed HIV could be transmitted by a mosquito bite. With regard to prevention and vulnerability, 25.5 percent did not know about the female condom and 36.9 percent considered AIDS a disease confined to men who have sex with men, sex workers, and injection-drug users. Regarding antiretroviral treatment, 12.2 percent ignored its existence. Elderly people in companionship groups have important misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, which can increase their risk of infection. There is a need for public health programs directed to this population in order to prevent or decrease the risk of HIV transmission.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge about HIV/AIDS in participants of companionship groups in the Vale do Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It was a prospective cross-sectional study in a sample of 510 individuals, 17% males and 82.5% females aged between 60 and 90 years. We used the Questionnaire on HIV for the Old Aged, which comprises the general characteristics of the participants and questions concerning HIV/AIDS, organized into the elements 'concept', 'transmission', 'prevention', 'vulnerability', and 'treatment'. Nearly half of the participants (48.4 %) reported having studied 4 to 7 years and the monthly income of 52.2% was of 1 to 3 minimum wages. In the dimensions concept and transmission, 49.4% had no idea about the asymptomatic phase of the infection, and 41.4% believed HIV could be transmitted by a mosquito bite. With regard to prevention and vulnerability, 25.5% did not know about the female condom and 36.9% considered AIDS a disease confined to men who have sex with men, sex workers, and injection-drug users. Regarding antiretroviral treatment, 12.2% ignored its existence. Elderly people in companionship groups have important misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, which can increase their risk of infection. There is a need for public health programs directed to this population in order to prevent or decrease the risk of HIV transmission.

Asunto(s)