Patients with drug-abuse poisoning with and without HIV infection: differential characteristics.

Objectives: Persons with HIV infection who use illicit drugs have higher morbidity and mortality rates than nonusers with or without HIV infection. The objetive were to detect differences between acute poisoning from illicit drugs in patients with and without HIV infection who are attended in hospital emergency departments, and to identify independent factors associated with a worse prognosis, defined by hospital admission or death.

Material And Methods: Observational study in 2 hospitals between January 2017 and 31 December 2021.

Amphetamine-related intoxications in people living with HIV: An observational study in an emergency department in Barcelona (Spain) from 2018 to 2020.

Background: Stimulant drugs, particularly amphetamines, are more commonly implicated in drug-related deaths in people living with HIV; however, the clinical characteristics of amphetamine-related intoxication in people living with HIV are poorly described.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in people living with HIV who were admitted for amphetamine-related intoxication to an emergency department of a teaching hospital between 2018 and 2021. Severe intoxication (SI) was arbitrarily defined as requiring admission to the emergency medical support unit and receiving medical treatment for ≥6 h.

COVID-19 vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among people with opioid use disorder in Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: People with substance use disorders are considered a priority group for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination as they are at elevated risk of COVID-19 and its severe complications. However, data are scarce about vaccination coverage in a real-world setting.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) from three public centres for outpatient drug addiction treatment in Barcelona, Spain, who received brief medical advice and were referred to vaccination clinic sites.

Similar COVID-19 incidence to the general population in people with opioid use disorder receiving integrated outpatient clinical care.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, limited access to health care augmented COVID-19 risk in subjects with opioid use disorder (OUD). The aim of the study was to compare COVID-19 incidence in individuals with OUD receiving continuous clinical care with that of the general population.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out from March 2020 to March 2021 comparing COVID-19 cumulative incidence of individuals presenting an OUD receiving integrated clinical care with that of an age-reference general population, in three public outpatient treatment centers for addiction in Barcelona, Spain.

Effectiveness of an Acute Care for Elders unit at a long-term care facility for frail older patients with COVID-19.

The Acute Care for Elders (ACE) is a model of care addressed to reduce the incidence of loss of self-care abilities of older adults occurring during hospitalization for acute illness. This observational study aimed to describe the effectiveness of an ACE unit at a long-term care facility to prevent functional decline (decrease in the Barthel Index score of >5 points from admission to discharge) in older adults with frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale score ≥5) and symptomatic COVID-19. Fifty-one patients (mean age: 80.

Integrated Care on Leaving Hospital Against Medical Advice Among HIV-Infected People with Substance Use Disorders.

HIV-infected people with substance use disorders (HIV-SUDs) are at increased risk of leaving hospital against medical advice (LHAMA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of LHAMA in HIV-SUDs admitted to a patient-centered hospital where they receive integrated care, including healthcare, substance use treatment, and social support. Observational study was conducted at an urban acute-care university teaching hospital.

Metabolic syndrome among individuals with heroin use disorders on methadone therapy: Prevalence, characteristics, and related factors.

Background: Observational studies have reported a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes in subjects on methadone therapy; there are, however, limited data about metabolic syndrome. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and related factors in individuals with heroin use disorder on methadone therapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in individuals with heroin use disorder on methadone therapy at a drug abuse outpatient center.

Low Non-structured Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions in HIV-Infected Persons Who Inject Drugs Receiving Multidisciplinary Comprehensive HIV Care at an Outpatient Drug Abuse Treatment Center.

Continuous HIV treatment is necessary to ensure successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of patient-initiated non-structured treatment interruptions in HIV-infected persons who inject drugs and who received a multidisciplinary comprehensive program, including medical HIV care, drug-dependence treatment and psychosocial support, at a drug outpatient addiction center. Non-structured treatment interruptions were defined as ≥30 consecutive days off cART without medical indication.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Use, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 RNA Suppression, and Medical Causes of Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected Intravenous Drug Users in the Late ART Era.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the rates and changed the causes of hospital admission. However, human immunodeficiency virus-positive intravenous drug users (HIV-IDU) continue to have increased hospitalizations and discharge diagnosis are less defined in the late ART era. Our aim was to examine ART use, HIV-1 RNA suppression, and hospital discharge diagnoses among HIV-IDU admitted to an urban hospital.

Temporal trends in the survival of drug and alcohol abusers according to the primary drug of admission to treatment in Spain.

Background: Mortality of alcohol and drug abusers is much higher than the general population. We aimed to characterize the role of the primary substance of abuse on the survival of patients admitted to treatment and to analyze changes in mortality over time.

Methods: Longitudinal study analyzing demographic, drug use, and biological data of 5023 patients admitted to three hospital-based treatment units in Barcelona, Spain, between 1985 and 2006.

Risk of QTc prolongation in a cohort of opioid-dependent HIV-infected patients on methadone maintenance therapy.

Background: Concern regarding the QTc interval in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has been growing in recent years, and cases of prolonged QTc interval and torsades de pointes have been described in HIV-infected patients on methadone therapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with long QTc interval in a cohort of opioid-dependent HIV-infected patients on methadone maintenance therapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in opioid-dependent HIV-infected patients on methadone maintenance therapy at a drug abuse outpatient center.

Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of nevirapine plus coformulated tenofovir/emtricitabine as first-line therapy in routine clinical practice.

Despite having demonstrated noninferior efficacy against atazanavir/ritonavir plus coformulated tenofovir/emtricitabine (cTDF/FTC), the combination of nevirapine plus cTDF/FTC is not included among preferred regimens in some international guidelines. This combination is frequently used in Spain. We analyzed its effectiveness and safety as first-line therapy in a routine clinical practice.

[Anal intraepithelial neoplasia: application of a diagnostic protocol in risk patients using anal cytology].

Introduction: Anal intraepithelial neoplasia is a precursor condition of squamous anal carcinoma. The groups at risk of this lesion are patients with anogenital condylomata, cervical dysplasia, human immunodeficiency virus infection and, in general, patients with HPV infection. The aim of this study was to analyse the results of a diagnostics protocol of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia in high risk population using anal cytology.

Saquinavir exposure in HIV-infected patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus co-infection and the extent of liver fibrosis on saquinavir and ritonavir pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected subjects without liver function impairment.

Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study enrolling HIV-infected adults receiving saquinavir/ritonavir 1000/100 mg twice daily or 1500/100 mg once daily was conducted. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis (HEP+) were grouped as having advanced liver fibrosis (HEP+/FIB+) or not (HEP+/FIB-) based on the FIB-4 index.

Simplified therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and abacavir for very nonadherent, treatment-failing patients.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a simplified therapy for very nonadherent patients who had previously failed with HAART.

Method: We performed a prospective open-label study of antiretroviral-experienced patients. Dosing schedule comprised (co-formulated) zidovudine, lamivudine, and abacavir bid.