Abstract
Purpose: HIV disease and antiretroviral treatments can be accompanied by intense physical and psychological symptoms, including body fat redistribution. Lipodystrophy is often associated with increased illness perception and stigmatization. Amelioration of the anthropomorphic and metabolic changes, through provider-directed or self-care measures, can be challenging and often results in reduced medication adherence and impacts quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of HIV-related lipodystrophic symptoms based upon a team-generated conceptual model exploring associations between personal characteristics, resources, illness perception and severity, and changes in symptoms, adherence and quality of life.
Methods: This study was a sub-analysis of 188 individuals who reported lipodystrophy in a randomized controlled trial (N=190) that tested a self-care symptom management manual. Data on body fat changes were collected at two time points (baseline and 2 months) at 3 sites in the southern United States. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were calculated on demographic variables, objective indicators and perceived body fat changes, illness perception, and stigma.
Conclusions: 64.2% were male, 45.8% Latino, 37.9% African American and 14.7% Caucasian with a mean age of 42.2 years (SD 9.0). Significant (p<.05) correlates of lipodystrophy included illness perception (r=-.40), stigma (r=-.33) and quality of life (r=.32). Self-reported objective indicators of lipodystrophy did not correlate significantly with perceived body fat changes. Significant predictors of lipodystrophy (adjusted R2=.185, F=15.1, p=.000) included stigma (Beta=-.19, p=.014) and illness perception (Beta=-.28, p=.001). Implications: Interventions to reduce stigma and illness perception should be targeted to younger persons living with HIV to decrease negative perceptions of body fat changes. Clearly, these negative, cognitive indices have a greater effect than objective indicators of lipodystrophy upon the individual's perceptions of their bodies. Clinician assessment should include both subjective and objective data related to lipodystrophic symptoms.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Lipodystrophy, Stigma, HIV/AIDS
Recommended Citation
Kirksey, Kenn M.; Hamilton, Mary Jane; Brown, Adama; and Sefcik, Elizabeth F., "Predictors of body fat redistribution in persons living with HIV/AIDS" (2012). Convention. 68.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2011/presentations_2011/68
Conference Name
41st Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2011
Rights Holder
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Predictors of body fat redistribution in persons living with HIV/AIDS
Grapevine, Texas, USA
Purpose: HIV disease and antiretroviral treatments can be accompanied by intense physical and psychological symptoms, including body fat redistribution. Lipodystrophy is often associated with increased illness perception and stigmatization. Amelioration of the anthropomorphic and metabolic changes, through provider-directed or self-care measures, can be challenging and often results in reduced medication adherence and impacts quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of HIV-related lipodystrophic symptoms based upon a team-generated conceptual model exploring associations between personal characteristics, resources, illness perception and severity, and changes in symptoms, adherence and quality of life.
Methods: This study was a sub-analysis of 188 individuals who reported lipodystrophy in a randomized controlled trial (N=190) that tested a self-care symptom management manual. Data on body fat changes were collected at two time points (baseline and 2 months) at 3 sites in the southern United States. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were calculated on demographic variables, objective indicators and perceived body fat changes, illness perception, and stigma.
Conclusions: 64.2% were male, 45.8% Latino, 37.9% African American and 14.7% Caucasian with a mean age of 42.2 years (SD 9.0). Significant (p<.05) correlates of lipodystrophy included illness perception (r=-.40), stigma (r=-.33) and quality of life (r=.32). Self-reported objective indicators of lipodystrophy did not correlate significantly with perceived body fat changes. Significant predictors of lipodystrophy (adjusted R2=.185, F=15.1, p=.000) included stigma (Beta=-.19, p=.014) and illness perception (Beta=-.28, p=.001). Implications: Interventions to reduce stigma and illness perception should be targeted to younger persons living with HIV to decrease negative perceptions of body fat changes. Clearly, these negative, cognitive indices have a greater effect than objective indicators of lipodystrophy upon the individual's perceptions of their bodies. Clinician assessment should include both subjective and objective data related to lipodystrophic symptoms.
Description
41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.