High prevalence of undiagnosed anxiety symptoms among HIV-positive individuals on cART: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety disorders are frequent in HIV-infected individuals, canpre-exist or occur during HIV infection. We evaluated with a self-reportedquestionnaire whether anxiety is related to HIV clinical status and therapeuticsuccess in a cohort of HIV-positive subjects in Sicily.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 251 patients on combination antiretroviraltherapy (cART) for at least six months; Self Rating Anxiety State SAS 054 wasused to diagnose anxiety and a Z score ≥ 45 points was considered diagnostic.RESULTS: 47% of patients were diagnosed with anxiety. Patients showing symptomsrelated to anxiety had experienced a high number of therapeutic switches (fourth line or more).CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms amongsubjects with HIV infection in Eastern Sicily. Physicians should be aware of the extent of the problem and should be able to adequately manage anxiety in thesetting of HIV infection.