(Vancouver) – One third of people who died from HIV-related causes did not receive life-saving treatment, says a study authored by the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
The Centre study, to be published Oct. 15 in the international Journal of Infectious Diseases, also reveals individuals who did not receive essential treatment were most likely to be Aboriginal, female, poor and/or living in the Downtown Eastside.
In B.C., all anti-HIV medications are distributed at no cost to eligible HIV-infected individuals through the Centre’s Drug Treatment Program. The Centre study highlights the need for improving access to life-saving HIV treatments, says Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of Centre’s Clinical Activities.
“Even though all medications are provided free of charge, high HIV/AIDS death rates persist due to barriers to accessing drug therapy,” says Montaner.”It’s sad when you consider HIV-infection can be a manageable illness with available treatment.”
The study, using information from B.C. Ministry of Health’s Vital Statistics Agency, evaluated all HIV-related deaths from January 1995 to December 2001. Overall, 1,239 deaths were attributed to HIV infection during the study period. Of that number, 833 (67.2%) received treatment, while 406 (32.8%) did not. Of those who accessed anti-HIV medication, less than half (379; 45.5%) received consistent treatment – again, mostly those Aboriginal, female, poor and/or living in the Downtown Eastside.
The study suggests improved access to addiction treatment, directly observed therapy programs, access to medical services without appointment and onsite pharmacists at medical clinics could improve access and adherence among populations at risk. The Centre has begun working with health authorities and community groups to develop a variety of”assisted treatment” programs designed to help patients to adhere to medication.
“There are a significant number of marginalized people who have been successfully treated with drug therapy,” says Dr. Evan Wood, lead author of the study.”Expanding novel healthcare interventions and addiction treatment strategies is imperative to address the lack of access.”
The study follows another recently published Centre paper that warns Vancouver’s health-care system may face a crisis over the next few years if large numbers of injection drug users, infected with HIV in the mid-1990s, do not start accessing HIV treatment.
Founded in 1992 by St. Paul’s Hospital and the provincial Ministry of Health, the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS seeks to improve the health of people with HIV through the development, ongoing monitoring and dissemination of comprehensive investigative and treatment programs for HIV and related diseases. St. Paul’s Hospital is one of seven health care facilities operated by Providence Health Care, Canada’s largest faith-based health care organization.