Impact of lipodystrophy on the quality of life of HIV-1-infected patients.
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.
Blanch
Jordi
J
Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic Universitari de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jblanch@clinic.ub.es
Rousaud
Araceli
A
Martínez
Esteban
E
De Lazzari
Elisa
E
Peri
Josep-Maria
JM
Milinkovic
Ana
A
Perez-Cuevas
Jose-Bernardo
JB
Blanco
José-Luís
JL
Gatell
Josep-Maria
JM
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