Use of complementary and alternative therapies in HIV-infected patients

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies is widesp read in many chronic illnesses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) infection. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of inc reasingly effective antiretroviral therapy on the use of CAM in an HIV-posi tive patient population. A written survey was given to 191 HIV-positive out patients. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. One hundred twenty-eig ht patients (67%) used CAM at some time to control HIV and 76 (40%) of the patients were currently using CAM, The major forms of CAM used were exercis e (43%), lifestyle changes (38%), dietary supplements (37%), counseling (27 %), herbal medications (26%), megavitamins (24%), and prayer therapy (24%). One hundred forty-one patients (74%) used a protease inhibitor medication, 28 (15%) used a protease inhibitor sparing regime, and 22 (11%) had no cur rent or prior antiretroviral use. Eighty-two (43%) patients indicated that their doctor knew they used CAM and 56 patients (29%) received their inform ation about CAM from a doctor or other health care professional. Of 128 pat ients who used CAM, 90 (70%) felt CAM improved their quality of life. Incom e of $15,000 or more per year and discontinuation of medications by patient s for any reason in the past were the best predicators of CAM use for patie nts in general and also those on protease inhibitor therapy. CD4 count, edu cational status, year of HIV diagnosis, and martial status were not effecti ve predictors of CAM use. Use of CAM remains widespread among patients with HIV infection even with the availability of effective, yet noncurative ant iretroviral therapy and does not correlate with type of antiretroviral ther apy used or clinical status.