Health values of patients coinfected with HIV/hepatitis C: are two viruses worse than one?
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess health values of patients coinfected with HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) and compare them with those of patients singly infected with HIV or HCV and to characterize and assess the relationship of clinical and nonhealth-related factors with health values.


METHODS
We studied a total of 203 subjects infected with HIV, HCV, or both.


METHODS
We assessed rating scale (RS), time tradeoff (TTO), and standard gamble (SG) values, and we explored associations of health values with the Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the SF-12; number of bothersome symptoms from the HIV Symptoms Index; spirituality, as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, Spiritual Well-being scale; as well as with a number of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics.


RESULTS
Of the 203 subjects, 59 (29%) had HIV monoinfection, 69 (34%) had HCV monoinfection, and 75 (37%) were coinfected. The mean (SD) health values for the cohort were: RS = 0.69 (0.23), TTO= 0.88 (0.24), and SG = 0.78 (0.30). Infection type was related, albeit differently, to TTO values (mean values for patients with coinfection = 0.82; HIV = 0.91; and HCV = 0.91 [P < 0.05]) and SG values (coinfection = 0.77; HIV = 0.70; and HCV = 0.87; P < 0.05). In multivariable models, RS scores were significantly associated with sexual orientation, PCS scores, MCS scores, symptoms, and spirituality (adjusted R = 0.61); TTO with symptoms and spirituality (adjusted R = 0.23); and SG with infection type, PCS scores, and symptoms (adjusted R = 0.24).


CONCLUSIONS
Health values and their correlates varied by method of assessment. Health values appear to be driven more by symptoms, health status, and spirituality than by number of viral infections.
Mrus
Joseph M
JM
Health Services Research and Development, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. joseph.m.mrus@GSK.com
Sherman
Kenneth E
KE
Leonard
Anthony C
AC
Sherman
Susan N
SN
Mandell
Karen L
KL
Tsevat
Joel
J
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors