Do oral lesions associated with HIV affect quality of life?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of oral lesions on quality of life (QOL) in HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP).


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional analytic study that compared 2 groups of HIV+ patients. Group 1 (n = 71) consisted of patients who presented with oral manifestations of HIV infection. Patients in group 2 (n = 79) were also HIV positive but had no oral lesions. The QOL measures were assessed by either simple frequency counts or the use of item weights.


RESULTS
Oral candidiasis was the most common oral lesion diagnosed. Patients in group 1 reported significantly greater impacts (P < .05) for all 7 subscales in OHIP.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral lesions associated with HIV infection negatively affect the oral health-related QOL in infected patients.
Yengopal
Veerasamy
V
Division of Public Oral Health, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. veerasamy.yengopal@wits.ac.za
Naidoo
Sudeshni
S
D000328:Adult; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013019:South Africa