Effect of long-cycle structured intermittent versus continuous HAART on quality of life in patients with chronic HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of repeated, long-cycle structured intermittent versus continuous HAART on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and symptom distress in patients with chronic HIV infection and plasma HIV RNA of less than 50 copies/ml.


METHODS
Prospective survey of adult patients (n = 46) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial evaluating intermittent versus continuous HAART on immunological and virologic parameters. Patients (n = 23) randomized to structured intermittent therapy received serial cycles of 4 weeks on/8 weeks off HAART.


METHODS
HRQL was measured by the physical and mental health summary scores of the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV). Symptom distress was measured by the Symptom Distress Scale. Patients completed initial questionnaires prior to randomization and at weeks 4, 12, and 40 of the trial via a touch screen computer in an outpatient clinic.


RESULTS
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were equivalent in both treatment groups. Although the mental health summary score declined significantly over time for the structured intermittent group, linear mixed modeling ANOVA indicated no significant difference across time for MOS-HIV summary and Symptom Distress Scale scores between the two treatment arms.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small sample, repeated long-cycle structured intermittent therapy may not provide HRQL or symptom distress advantage compared to continuous HAART in patients with chronic HIV infection over 10 months of treatment. Further research in a heterogenous chronic HIV population and longer follow-up period is warranted.
Nursing and Patient Care Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. apowers@niaid.nih.gov
April E
AE
Powers
Susan F
SF
Marden
Rose
R
McConnell
Nancy K
NK
Leidy
Colleen M
CM
Campbell
Karen L
KL
Soeken
Chris
C
Barker
Richard T
RT
Davey
Mark R
MR
Dybul
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents