title: Impact of lipodystrophy on the quality of life of HIV-1-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lipodystrophy (LD) represents an important problem for HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), although its impact on quality of life (QoL) has not been properly studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, nonrandomized, observational study performed on consecutive, clinically stable outpatients taking HAART for more than 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on patients' characteristics, HIV-1 infection, treatment adherence and adverse effects, overall QoL measured by the Profil der Lebensqualität Chronischkranker (PLC), and the presence of LD defined by clinical criteria were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four (56%) of 150 interviewed patients fulfilled criteria for LD. Patients with LD were older, had been taking antiretroviral treatment longer, and reported a poorer physical status than patients without LD. Surprisingly, LD itself was not found to influence overall QoL. However, homosexual patients, unemployed patients, and those patients undergoing current psychiatric treatment showed greater impairment on some of the QoL subscales related to psychological well-being if they suffered from LD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of HIV-related LD on QoL depends on certain patient characteristics, rather than on the presence of LD itself.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic Universitari de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jblanch@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rousaud
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Lazzari
authors.forename: Josep-Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milinkovic
authors.forename: Jose-Bernardo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Perez-Cuevas
authors.forename: José-Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Josep-Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors