Skin-related quality of life in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
The overall health status and survival of HIV-infected patients has changed with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). With this improved survival, there is a greater urgency to study quality-of-life issues.


OBJECTIVE
Our objectives were to measure skin-related quality of life in a cohort of HIV-infected patients and to determine whether the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy is associated with improved skin-related quality of life.


METHODS
We assembled a retrospective cohort of patients who were seen in our HIV-Dermatology Clinic at San Francisco General Hospital in June, July, or August of 1996. Eligible subjects were contacted by mail and asked (1) to complete a questionnaire (Skindex) and (2) to have a skin exam. Information on medication use and laboratory parameters was also collected.


RESULTS
Of 107 eligible patients, 76 (71%) responded to the questionnaire; 60 patients were examined. Many patients had multiple skin conditions. For most diagnoses (except warts and onychomycosis), there were no consistent differences in Skindex scores of HIV-infected patients compared with scores of patients not known to be infected with HIV. Patients on HAART for longer duration had significantly lower Skindex scores (improved skin-related quality of life) compared with those on HAART for a shorter duration.


CONCLUSIONS
HAART is associated with improved quality of life with regard to HIV-associated skin diseases.
Mirmirani
Paradi
P
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0316, USA. pmirmirani@orca.ucsf.edu
Maurer
Toby A
TA
Berger
Timothy G
TG
Sands
Laura P
LP
Chren
Mary-Margaret
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology*