High Satisfaction with Long-Acting HIV Treatment Despite Injection-Site Pain

Researchers surveyed 150 individuals receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir/rilpivirine at a Chicago clinic and found that almost all participants expressed high satisfaction with their HIV treatment and planned to continue, despite experiencing injection-site pain as a nearly universal side effect. The majority of participants were heterosexual Black men, and the opportunity to stop taking daily pills was the most common reason for switching to injectable treatment. While 98% of participants reported experiencing pain from their most recent injection, 47% said that this side effect improved after their first injection.

Key Takeaways:

• Almost all participants (150 out of 150) receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir/rilpivirine in a Chicago clinic expressed high satisfaction with their HIV treatment and planned to continue it.
• The majority of participants (67% of participants were Black, 56% were cisgender men, and 55% were heterosexual) were heterosexual Black men with 37% over 50 years old.
• The opportunity to stop taking daily pills was the most common reason for switching to injectable treatment, with 91% of participants saying they were very likely to continue the treatment.
• Most participants experienced injection-site pain (98% of participants reported experiencing pain from their most recent injection), but 47% said that this side effect improved after their first injection.
• However, 78% of 36 participants who reported severe pain (score 6/10) said it didn't improve during subsequent injections.
• Injection site swelling and hardening were common side effects, reported by 20% and 22% of participants, respectively.
• Participants reported feeling better physically and/or psychologically, and treatment was more convenient and travel easier after switching from daily oral treatment.
• Ten percent of participants reported negative effects, including mood swings and challenges in getting insurance coverage.

Statistics:

• 150 people were surveyed in this study.
• 98% of participants reported experiencing pain from their most recent injection.
• 47% of participants said that injection-site pain improved after their first injection.
• 78% of 36 participants who reported severe pain (score 6/10) said it didn't improve during subsequent injections.
• 20% of participants reported injection site swelling.
• 22% of participants reported injection site hardening.
• 91% of participants said they were very likely to continue the treatment.
• 37% of participants were over 50 years old.

Sources:

• "Acceptability of Long-Acting Cabotegravir + Rilpivirine in a Large, Urban, Ambulatory HIV Clinic" was published online on Aug. 5, 2024, in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
• The lead author is Casey Morgan Luc, M.P.H., of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in Chicago.