Health-related quality of life after 1 year of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the impact of the first year of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on health-related quality of life (HRQL).


METHODS
Medical data for patients in the French APROCO cohort were collected at enrollment (M0) and month 12 (M12). A self-administered questionnaire gathered information about HRQL (Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and toxicity-related symptoms. Using the twenty-fifth percentile of HRQL scales in the French population as a threshold, patients with normal values in at least three mental and three physical scales were considered to have a "normal HRQL." RESULTS. Of the 1053 patients followed through M12, HRQL data at M0 and M12 were available for 654. Among the 233 patients with a normal baseline HRQL, 63 (27.0%) experienced a deterioration of HRQL at M12. Among the 421 patients with a low baseline HRQL, 121 achieved a normal HRQL at M12. Logistic regression showed that factors independently associated with a normal HRQL at M12 were normal baseline HRQL, baseline CD4 count <500 cells/mm, time since HIV diagnosis <8 years, undetectable HIV-RNA at M12, and lower number of self-reported symptoms at M12.


CONCLUSIONS
An assessment of HRQL should be integrated to efficacy outcomes to evaluate and compare long-term strategies properly and to optimize the durability of response to antiretroviral therapy.
Carrieri
Patrizia
P
INSERM U379/ORS, Marseille, France.
Spire
Bruno
B
Duran
Ségolène
S
Katlama
Christine
C
Peyramond
Dominique
D
François
Cécile
C
Chêne
Geneviève
G
Lang
Jean-Marie
JM
Moatti
Jean-Paul
JP
Leport
Catherine
C
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents