Patient POV
ARV-Related Weight Gain Is Important to People Living With HIV: Patient Survey
Study design
Study of 501 adults in the US diagnosed with HIV, randomly selected to answer a self-directed, online quantitative survey. Minimal post hoc weighting (weights range: 0.65-1.47) was performed to adjust the final sample composition on gender, age, race/ethnicity, and region to be consistent with the 2018 CDC HIV surveillance report. This study was conducted by Ipsos between December 28, 2020 and February 8, 2021.
Descriptive statistics were reported for both the overall sample and the 3 subgroups of interest (Black/African American patients, Hispanic patients, and female patients).
The primary objective of this survey was to develop a greater understanding of patient awareness of, concern with, and desire to avoid ARV‑related weight gain. The secondary objective was to explore if women and Black and Hispanic patients had different perspectives on these questions when compared to PLWHIV overall.
Limitations: Survey may be subject to sources of error including (but not limited to) coverage and measurement errors. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points for total respondents. No transgender patients were included in this survey.*
A national survey of 501 PLWHIV found that:
78%
are concerned about weight gain due to ARV therapy†
85%
want their doctor to discuss the potential risk of ARV-related weight gain with them, yet only 38% recall their doctor asking about weight gain during their most recent visit
~2
out
of
3
struggle with exercising regularly; a similar number are currently trying to lose weight
Responses were similar for women and Black and Hispanic patients‡
Weighted Study Population Demographic Characteristics
| Gender* | |
|---|---|
| Male | 76% |
| Female | 24% |
| Race/Ethnicity | |
|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 30% |
| Black/African American | 41% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 23% |
| Other§ | 6% |
| Age | |
|---|---|
| 18-44 | 37% |
| 45-54 | 28% |
| 55-64 | 25% |
| ≥65 | 10% |
| Region | |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 23% |
| Midwest | 12% |
| South | 45% |
| West | 20% |
*There were no respondents in the sample who selected transgender or other gender identity when responding to the demographic question.
†When responding to the question: “How concerned are you about the potential to gain weight, referred to as HIV medication-related weight gain, as a result of taking your HIV medication?”; “concerned”=those respondents who answered with “extremely concerned,” “very concerned,” or “somewhat concerned.”
‡Responses for female and Black and Hispanic respondents were within +/- 5% of total population responses, except for the question, “Do you recall your doctor asking you about weight gain at your most recent visit?”, in which 38% of total respondents selected “yes” compared to 50% of Hispanic patients.
§Other races included American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and multiracial.
ARV=antiretroviral; CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; PLWHIV=people living with HIV: POV=point of view.
Reference: Data on file. Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP.