KENILWORTH, N.J., Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck (NYSE:
MRK), known as MSD outside the United
States and Canada,
announced today that a new survey of U.S. adults living with HIV
showed that 66 percent of respondents were more concerned with
their other chronic health conditions than their HIV. The aim of
the survey was to gauge the unique challenges and concerns of
individuals who have been living with HIV for ten years or longer,
and who have at least one co-existing chronic medical condition,
such as depression, high blood pressure or diabetes. The survey
results also will inform the evolution of the I Design
campaign to better meet the particular needs of this important
patient population.
"Tremendous progress over the past three decades has yielded
important treatment advances in HIV. Today, people with HIV
are living longer, and understandably, their concerns are
shifting. This survey was developed to understand the specific
needs of people as they age with HIV," said Joann Gaughran, U.S. Regional Marketing Leader,
HIV.
A diverse group of more than 500 people living with HIV who were
at the time taking anti-retroviral medication and who widely ranged
in education, length of time since diagnosis, age and income level
were surveyed. On average, survey respondents were
managing three other chronic conditions, and the majority (66
percent) reported that they wished they could spend more time
talking to their HIV health care provider about them.
As people age, including people infected with HIV, it is more
likely that they develop a chronic health condition.
"As someone who has been living with HIV for 20 years, chronic
conditions are top of mind, particularly as I get older," said
Maria Davis, music industry insider
and HIV advocate. "It is important to discuss with all members of
your health care team other conditions you may have or medications
you are taking, beyond your HIV therapy, including any
over-the-counter medicines or supplements."
According to survey respondents, their chronic health conditions
had an effect on their HIV therapy. The majority (58 percent) of
all people surveyed reported that their HIV healthcare provider had
changed their HIV medicine treatment plan at least once because of
their other chronic health conditions. More than one in five
respondents under the age of 40 years (23 percent) reported their
HIV medicine treatment plan had been changed more than five times
since they started antiretroviral therapy, each time due at least
in part to one of their chronic health conditions.
"In just the past 20 years, we have seen the HIV treatment
landscape shift from limited or no treatment options, to the wide
variety of therapies available today," said Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Associate Clinical Professor
of Medicine, David Geffen School of
Medicine, UCLA. "As physicians, we now
have the flexibility to tailor treatment plans for our patients
living with HIV, taking into consideration factors like their age
and any chronic conditions."
Most respondents (85 percent) indicated that they were at least
somewhat concerned about how their HIV medication would affect
their other chronic health conditions. Conversely, nearly as
many respondents (80 percent) were concerned about how their
medication treatment for their other chronic health conditions
would impact their HIV.
The survey also revealed important insights about the
conversations between respondents and their HIV health care
providers:
- Most people surveyed (55 percent) spoke to their HIV health
care provider about their other chronic health conditions more
often than they did the first twelve months after they were
diagnosed with HIV.
- During the majority of their visits with their HIV health care
providers, most respondents talked about their HIV (95 percent) and
their other chronic conditions (80 percent).
- However, more than one in four respondents (27 percent)
reported they had difficulty prioritizing topics for conversations
with their HIV health care provider because of their other chronic
health conditions. This was particularly true for respondents
younger than 40 years old (57 percent), compared to respondents who
were 40 years of age or older (21 percent).
Key demographics of the final sample included:
- Majority (52 percent) were 50 years of age or older
- Majority (55 percent) had health care coverage from Medicaid or
Medicare
- Nearly four in ten (39 percent) were married or living with a
partner
- About three-quarters (76 percent) did not have any children
under the age of 18 living with them
- Nearly a quarter of all respondents (24 percent) reported being
unable to work; about one in three (34 percent) aged 50 years of
age or older reported being unable to work
- About six in ten (61 percent) reported earning a household
income of less than $50,000 in
2014
- More than six in ten (63 percent) were of minority
ethnicities
- About half (51 percent) considered themselves to be
gay/lesbian
- 72 percent identified as male and 28 percent identified as
female
About the Survey
The survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of
Merck, Kenilworth, NJ, from
September 14 – October 9, 2015, among 519 U.S. adults 18 years
of age and older who had been living with diagnosed HIV for ten
years or longer, were at the time taking anti-retroviral
medications for their HIV and had at least one co-existing chronic
health condition. Data were weighted where necessary by age,
gender, race/ethnicity, region, education and income to bring them
in line with their actual proportions in the population of U.S.
adults living with HIV. Respondents for this survey were selected
among those who have agreed to participate in online surveys, as
well as through various AIDS service organizations (ASOs) across
the country to achieve as representative a total sample as
possible. For complete research method, including subgroup sample
sizes, please contact Kim
Angelastro.
About I Design
I Design is a national HIV education campaign led by
Merck that aims to empower people living with HIV to take an active
role in their health care by "getting vocal" with their health care
team about how they are feeling and doing on treatment to
individualize their care. To learn more, visit ProjectIDesign.com
to download tools such as a conversation checklist and a medication
tracker. These tools help patients to facilitate open and honest
dialogue with their health care providers, and track symptoms,
medications, vitamins and supplements.
Merck's Commitment to HIV
For 30 years, Merck has been at the forefront of the response to
the HIV epidemic, and has helped to make a difference through our
proud legacy of commitment to innovation, collaborating with the
community and expanding global access to medicines. In the United States, we are helping to address
healthcare disparities through educational programs and resources
that align with the National HIV Strategy. Merck is dedicated to
applying our scientific expertise, resources and global reach to
deliver healthcare solutions that support people living with HIV
worldwide.
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global health care leader working to help the
world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines,
vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work
with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies,
programs and partnerships. For more information, visit
www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and
LinkedIn.
Media
Contacts:
|
Carmen de
Gourville
|
Kim
Angelastro
|
|
(267)
305-4195
|
(212)
798-9740
|
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SOURCE Merck