Why Schizophrenia Patients Often Miss HIV Care

Schizophrenia affects how people think, feel, and act, and it also puts them at a higher risk of getting HIV. Those with both HIV and schizophrenia are more likely to die than those with just one of these conditions. Researchers haven't studied much about how well people with HIV and schizophrenia stay in care in the U. S. Many people with schizophrenia get their health insurance through Medicaid, a government program. This program helps cover the costs of medical care for people with low incomes. Experts want to know if people with both HIV and schizophrenia are able to stick with their HIV care plans. Care for HIV usually involves taking medication regularly and visiting healthcare providers often. This helps keep the HIV under control and prevent it from getting worse. However, sticking with this care can be tough for people with schizophrenia. They might have trouble remembering to take their medication or keeping appointments with healthcare providers. Researchers decided to look into this further. They wanted to see if people with schizophrenia were less likely to stay in HIV care compared to those without schizophrenia. They used data from Medicaid records to find out.