Impact of zidovudine plus lamivudine or zalcitabine on health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of treatment with zidovudine plus lamivudine or zalcitabine on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with HIV.


METHODS
HRQOL assessments were conducted as part of a double-blind, randomized, 24-week (extended to 52 wk) efficacy and safety study. The Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), which assesses 10 physical and psychological domains of HRQOL, was self-administered by patients at baseline and at weeks 16, 32, 52, or at treatment discontinuation.


METHODS
Twenty-one outpatient centers in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.


METHODS
The study enrolled 254 HIV-positive patients (CD4+ 100-300 cells/mm3); 206 patients completed the MOS-HIV at baseline and at least once during treatment. Post hoc analyses stratified patients into two subgroups: AIDS (CD4+ < 200 cells/mm3) and non-AIDS (CD4+ > or = 200 cells/mm3).


METHODS
Patients received zidovudine 200 mg three times daily plus one of the following: lamivudine 150 mg twice daily, lamivudine 300 mg twice daily, or zalcitabine 0.75 mg three times daily.


METHODS
Change in MOS-HIV scores from baseline to last completed questionnaire.


RESULTS
Following an average of 36 weeks of treatment, there were statistically significant differences across treatment groups in mean change scores on the physical functioning, role functioning, and vitality scales, with stable or increased (improved) scores in the zidovudine plus lamivudine 150 mg group and decreased scores in the zidovudine plus zalcitabine and zidovudine plus lamivudine 300 mg groups for most scales. Post hoc analyses found that in the non-AIDS subgroup, only the zidovudine plus lamivudine 150 mg group had increases in mean MOS-HIV scores (on 8 of 10 scales); in the AIDS subgroup, all but two MOS-HIV scores (in the zidovudine plus zalcitabine group) decreased in all three treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that, of the three combination therapies studied, zidovudine plus lamivudine 150 mg was most likely to maintain or improve HRQOL in HIV-positive patients.
Scott-Lennox
J A
JA
Global Health Outcomes, Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Mills
R J
RJ
Burt
M S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016047:Zalcitabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine; D016047:Zalcitabine