Course and characteristics of depression over a 12-month period among Ghanaians living with HIV: the EVERLAST study

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 34; no. 12; pp. 1547 - 1554
• Main Authors: Ayisi-Boateng, Nana Kwame, Blay Nguah, Samuel, Omuojine, John Paul, Ovbiagele, Bruce, Sarfo, Fred Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02-12-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Change agents; combined ART; Depression - complications; Depression - epidemiology; Ghana; Ghana - epidemiology; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune response; Longitudinal Studies; Mental depression; Patients; Persistent depression; PHQ-9; Recruitment; Sociodemographics; Ghana; Persistent depression; Ghana; HIV; PHQ-9; combined ART
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2029821

Individuals with HIV are predisposed to depression but there is limited data on its dynamics and correlates. We aimed to assess course and characteristics of depression among Ghanaian HIV patients over a 12-month period. We interrogated a longitudinal study dataset of patients at a tertiary hospital and assessed depression at month 0 and 12 using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Association between clinical, sociodemographic factors and changes in PHQ-9 scores were evaluated. Among 320 study participants, 171 (53.4%) and 55 (17.2%) had depression at month 0 and 12 respectively. Persistent depression was detected in 41 (24.0%) of the 171 patients with depression at month 0, whilst 135 (42.2%) of them never experienced depression. Patients' CD4 count was associated with depression at month 0 and 12 (p<0.05). Predictors of change in depression scores were urban dwelling [-1.98, 95%CI: -3.86 to -0.06, p=0.039], not knowing one's monthly income [2.10, 95%CI: 0.58 to 3.61, p=0.007], participant being single [-1.62 95%CI: -2.45 to -0.78, p<0.001] and being on antiretroviral therapy at recruitment [-1.5, 95%CI: -2.55 to -0.45, p<0.001]. There was a significant decrease in depression scores over a 12-month period and persistent depression is rife among this cohort of Ghanaians with HIV.