Depression Among HIV-infected Patients in Korea: Assessment of Clinical Significance and Risk Factors / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: With prolonged life expectancies, mental illness has emerged as a disabling disorder among people with HIV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of depression and its risk factors among Korean patients with HIV infections. Eighty-two HIV-infected patients completed structured questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Subjects with depression were compared to those without depression in terms of demographics, comorbidities, CD4 T-cell count, RNA copy numbers, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens, and adherence. RESULTS: The estimated depression rate was 21% (17 of 82 subjects). Comorbidities (47% vs. 20%, P = 0.01) and unemployment (65% vs. 31%, P = 0.02) were risk factors for depression. Depressive patients were more likely to be anxious (71% vs. 29%, P < 0.01), to frequently miss clinical appointments each year (P = 0.04), and to have higher cumulative time lost to follow-up per month (P <0.01) compared to non-depressive patients. Only three depressive patients were referred to neuropsychologists. CONCLUSIONS: More than 20% of the Korean HIV patients in this study suffered from depression associated with poor adherence. Considering the low level of recognition of depression by clinicians, risk factor-based active assessment is recommended to manage depression properly in HIV-infected patients.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics of Pneumococcal and non-Pneumococcal Streptococcal Pneumonia / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Although Pneumococcal (SPN) pneumonia is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, non-pneumococcal streptococcal (NSPN) pneumonia is also frequently reported. However, there are insufficient data on characteristics of NSPN pneumonia which makes it difficult to decide treatment plans or to assess the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2002 and February 2009, medical records including clinical and epidemiological data on patients aged > or =18 years with community-acquired streptococcal pneumonia were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics were compared between community-acquired NSPN pneumonia and SPN pneumonia. RESULTS: During the 7 year study periods, 248 patients were hospitalized with community-acquired streptococcal pneumonia and 30 of them had NSPN pneumonia. There were 12 cases of Streptococcus constellatus, 7 cases of S. anginosus, 4 cases of S. mitis, 3 cases of S. pyogenes, 2 cases of S. oralis, 1 case of S. alactolyticus and 1 case of S. agalactiae. There was no difference in percentage of patients with a chronic underlying disease between SPN and NSPN pneumonia groups. The most common was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (SPN 29.8%, NSPN 16.7%) followed by diabetes mellitus (SPN 22.0%, NSPN 13.3%). Bacteremia (SPN 7.3%, NSPN 20.0%, P=0.04) and empyema (SPN 1.4%, NSPN 53.3%, P<0.001) were more common in NSPN pneumonia. However, there was no significant difference in the CURB-65 pneumonia severity score and 30-day mortality between the two groups. According to multivariate analysis results, the significant risk factor for NSPN pneumonia was the history of frequent alcohol drinking (Adjusted OR 3.81, 95% CI 1.36 to 10.67). CONCLUSION: Pneumonia caused by NPSN is more commonly accompanied by bacteremia and empyema compared to SPN pneumonia, but there was no difference in the 30-day mortality between the two groups. NSPN pneumonia should be considered if a patient with a history of chronic alcoholism presents with pneumonia and pleural effusion, especially when Gram positive diplococci is seen in the sputum Gram stain.