METHODS: A cross-sectional population survey using an online questionnaire commenced on 14 February 2020. The study participants were residents of Taiwan ages 20 to 70 years. The 6-item state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. The questions about preventive measures asked participants about their personal protection, cough etiquette, contact precautions, voluntary quarantine, and prompt reporting. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing an increase in the preventive measures scores.
RESULTS: Of a total of 3555 completed responses, a total of 52.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50.4-53.7) of the respondents reported moderate to severe levels of anxiety symptoms in the past week, whereas 48.8% (95%CI 47.2-50.5) reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms at the beginning of the outbreak. With a higher score indicating greater anxiety, the median scores for anxiety symptoms in the past week and at the beginning of the outbreak were 46.7 (IQR [interquartile range] 36.7-53.3) and 43.3 (IQR 36.7-53.3), respectively. The median scores for the preventive measures taken in the past week and at the beginning of the outbreak were 26.0 (IQR 21.0-30.0) and 24.0 (IQR 19.0-28.0), respectively, out of a maximum score of 36. In the multivariable analysis, an increased anxiety symptom score from the beginning of the outbreak to the past week (adjusted OR = 7.38, 95%CI 6.28-8.66) was a strongly significant determinant of an increased preventive measures score in the past week compared with the score at the beginning of the outbreak.
CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and preventive measures scores were high and increased with the epidemic rate. Higher anxiety was associated with an increased use of preventive measures against COVID-19.
Objective: To investigate the validity and pattern of DSM-5-defined BQ use disorder (BUD) and its association with oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) among Asian populations.
Design, Setting, and Participants: In-person interviews were conducted from January 1, 2009, to February 28, 2010, among a random sample of 8922 noninstitutionalized adults from the Asian Betel-quid Consortium study, an Asian representative survey of 6 BQ-endemic populations. Statistical analysis was performed from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016.
Main Outcomes and Measures: Participants were evaluated for BUD using DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder and for OPMD using a clinical oral examination. Current users of BQ with 0 to 1 symptoms were classified as having no BUD, those with 2 to 3 symptoms as having mild BUD, those with 4 to 5 symptoms as having moderate BUD, and those with 6 or more symptoms as having severe BUD.
Results: Among the 8922 participants (4564 women and 4358 men; mean [SD] age, 44.2 [0.2] years), DSM-5 symptoms showed sufficient unidimensionality to act as a valid measure for BUD. The 12-month prevalence of DSM-5-defined BUD in the 6 study populations was 18.0% (mild BUD, 3.2%; moderate BUD, 4.3%; and severe BUD, 10.5%). The 12-month proportion of DSM-5-defined BUD among current users of BQ was 86.0% (mild BUD, 15.5%; moderate BUD, 20.6%; and severe BUD, 50.0%). Sex, age, low educational level, smoking, and drinking were significantly associated with BUD. Among individuals who used BQ, family use, high frequency of use, and amount of BQ used were significantly linked to moderate to severe BUD. Compared with individuals who did not use BQ, those who used BQ and had no BUD showed a 22.0-fold (95% CI, 4.3-112.4) risk of OPMD (P
METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, online study, conducted between October-November 2020, assessed the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and care among people living with HIV (PLHIV), key populations (KPs), and healthcare providers (HCPs). The study populations were recruited across ten Asian countries/territories, covering Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
RESULTS: Across the region, 702 PLHIV, 551 KPs, and 145 HCPs were recruited. Both PLHIV and KPs reported decreased or had yet to visit hospitals/clinics (PLHIV: 35.9%; KPs: 57.5%), reduced HIV RNA viral load testing (21.9%; 47.3%), and interruptions in antiretroviral therapy (ART) (22.3%) or decreased/complete stop of HIV prevention medication consumption (40.9%). Travel constraints (40.6%), financial issues (28.9%), and not receiving prescription refills (26.9%) were common reasons for interrupted ART access, whereas reduced engagements in behaviours that could increase the risks of HIV acquisition and transmission (57.7%), travel constraints (41.8%), and less hospital/clinic visits (36.7%) underlie the disruptions in HIV preventive medications. Decreased visits from PLHIV/KPs and rescheduled appointments due to clinic closure were respectively reported by 50.7%-52.1% and 15.6%-17.0% of HCPs; 43.6%-61.9% observed decreased ART/preventive medication refills. Although 85.0% of HCPs adopted telemedicine to deliver HIV care services, 56.4%-64.1% of PLHIV/KPs were not using telehealth services.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted HIV prevention to care continuum in Asia at the time of the study. The findings highlighted differences in HIV prevention to care continuum via telehealth services utilisation by PLHIV, KPs, and HCPs. Efforts are needed to optimise infrastructure and adapt systems for continued HIV care with minimal disruptions during health emergency crises.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional facility-based survey.
SETTING: Hospitals around the country with different levels of care.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1795 respondents, including 360 men and 1435 women who participated in the survey.
PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Burnout was assessed using the Physician Work Life Study. A score of ≥3 implied burnout.
RESULTS: Of the 1795 respondents, 723 (40.3%) reported burnout, and 669 (37.3%) cared for patients with COVID-19. Anxiety levels were mild in 185 (10.3%) respondents, moderate in 209 (11.6%) and severe in 1401 (78.1%). The mean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 score was 9.5±6.3, and 817 (45.5%) respondents were classified as having depression. Factors associated with burnout were working in acute and critical care (ACC) divisions (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.84, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.39, p=0.019), caring for patients with COVID-19 (aOR=3.90, 95% CI 1.14 to 13.37, p=0.031) and having depressive disorder (aOR=9.44, 95% CI 7.44 to 11.97, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and nurses are vulnerable to burnout during a pandemic, especially those working in ACC divisions. Anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and care of patients with COVID-19 may be factors that influence the occurrence of burnout among healthcare providers.
METHODS: We did this randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority trial at 46 outpatient centres in China, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA. Eligible participants were treatment-naive adults (aged ≥18 years) with plasma HIV-1 RNA of at least 500 copies per mL and plasma HBV DNA of at least 2000 IU/mL. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive daily oral bictegravir 50 mg, emtricitabine 200 mg, and tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg, or dolutegravir 50 mg, emtricitabine 200 mg, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg, each with corresponding matching placebo. Randomisation was stratified by hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status (positive vs negative), HBV DNA (<8 vs ≥8 log10 IU/mL), and CD4 count (<50 vs ≥50 cells per μL) at screening. All investigators, participants, and staff providing treatment, assessing outcomes, and collecting data were masked to study treatment for 96 weeks. Coprimary endpoints were the proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL (defined by the US Food and Drug Administration snapshot algorithm) and plasma HBV DNA less than 29 IU/mL (using the missing-equals-failure approach) at week 48, with a prespecified non-inferiority margin of -12%. Coprimary endpoints were assessed in the full analysis set, which included all randomly assigned participants who received at least one dose of study drug and had at least one post-baseline HIV-1 RNA or HBV DNA result while on study drug. Safety endpoints were assessed in all randomly assigned participants who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03547908.
FINDINGS: Between May 30, 2018 and March 16, 2021, 381 participants were screened, of whom 243 initiated treatment (121 in the receive bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide group; 122 in the dolutegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group). At week 48, both endpoints met the criteria for non-inferiority: 113 (95%) of 119 participants in the bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide group and 111 (91%) of 122 participants in the dolutegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group had HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL (difference 4·1, 95% CI -2·5 to 10·8; p=0·21), and 75 (63%) of 119 participants in the bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide group versus 53 (43%) of 122 participants in the dolutegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group had HBV DNA suppression (difference 16·6, 5·9 to 27·3; nominal p=0·0023). Drug-related adverse events up to week 96 occurred in 35 (29%) of 121 participants in the bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide group and 34 (28%) of 122 participants in the dolutegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate group. One (1%) of 121 participants in the bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide group reported a serious adverse event (cryptococcal meningitis attributed to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) that was deemed to be treatment-related.
INTERPRETATION: Coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide is an effective therapy for adults with HIV-1 and HBV coinfection starting antiviral therapy.
FUNDING: Gilead Sciences.