Evaluation of Stool frequency and stool form as measures of HIV-related diarrhea.
OBJECTIVE
In the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, HIV-related diarrhea remains common. Our aim was to evaluate stool frequency and form as measures of HIV-related diarrhea.


METHODS
Forty-eight HIV-infected persons with self-reported diarrhea were studied. In Analysis 1, self-reported retrospective and 7-day prospective measurement of stool frequency and form were compared using Spearman's correlation coefficient. In Analysis 2, diarrhea was measured during two 8-hour study periods in a subgroup (n = 20) using stool weight (Wt), diarrhea symptom score (Sx Score), stool frequency (SP-freq), and stool form using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (SP-BSFS). SP-freq and SP-BSFS were modeled alone and in combination to predict Wt and Sx Score.


RESULTS
In Analysis 1, correlation between measures of stool frequency was rs = 0.62 (p < .0001) but was rs = 0.16 (p = .26) between measures of stool form. In Analysis 2, the two-predictor model best predicted Wt, whereas the model using SP-freq only performed as well as the two-predictor model to predict Sx Score.


CONCLUSIONS
Prospective measurement of stool frequency performed well; in some situations, it may be used alone to measure severity of HIV-related diarrhea. Our findings may be used to design more rigorous clinical trials in HIV.
Division of Gastroenterology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jill.tinmouth@sunnybrook.ca
Jill
J
Tinmouth
George
G
Tomlinson
Gabor
G
Kandel
Sharon
S
Walmsley
Hillary A
HA
Steinhart
Richard
R
Glazier
D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index