Abstract #2690  -  Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life and sexual sphere in HIV-infected (HIV+) mature women in Spain. Comparison with non-HIV infected (HIV-) mature women. EVhA-3 Study (EVhA Stages Project).
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Mrs Cristina De Alvaro - AbbVie
Additional Authors:  Dra. Rosa Polo, Dra. Celia  Miralles, Dra. Piedad Arazo, Dra. Mª Jesús Pérez-Elías, Dra. Mª José Galindo, Dra. Mª José Mellaso, Dra. Esther Cabrero, Dra. Cristina De ALvaro, Dr. Ángel Burgos,
Aim: Women are a special population with specific clinical, metabolic, and social characteristics, although there are still few data focused on HIV-infected (HIV+) women. Moreover, as HIV infection has become a chronic disease and patients¡¯ life expectancy has increased, the HIV+ population is aging. Currently, HIV+ mature women reach menopause and suffer from other comorbidities. Understanding these patients¡¯ Quality of Life (QoL) and clinical and demographic characteristics may help manage HIV infection in this population.
Method / Issue: The EVhA-3 is an epidemiological, multicenter, cross-sectional, case-control study in HIV+ women, aged 35-60 years old, on stable antiretroviral treatment (ART) ¡Ý3 months in Spain. HIV+ women were matched to HIV- women by age, relationship and socio-cultural status. In this communication, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, QoL, and sexual sphere are compared between mature HIV+ and HIV- women. QoL was evaluated in the matched pairs and measured using validated tools: Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) and the Health Survey SF-36. Sexual sphere was evaluated with an ad-hoc designed survey. The study was approved by Ethic Committees and Health Authorities.
Results / Comments: We analysed 108 mature HIV+ and 113 HIV- women who were enrolled from 29 hospital sites (April-September 2011). There were 103 HIV+/HIV- matched pairs. Mean age (¡ÀSD) for HIV+ versus HIV- mature women was 45.3¡À5.6 versus 45.1¡À5.6 years (p=0.84). Race/ethnicity distribution was Caucasian, 89.8% versus 82.3% Black, 1.9% versus 1.8% and Hispanic, 7.4% versus 15.9% (p=0.19), respectively. Mean anthropometric measures were not significantly different among HIV+ versus HIV- women. Fewer HIV+ (compared to HIV-) women were married/living with a partner, 41.8% versus 68.1% (p=0.055). In addition, there were more HIV+ widows, 19.4% versus 5.3%, (p=0.002) and more HIV+ women with no children, 29.1% versus 16.1% (p=0.02). Regarding sexual sphere, there was a trend towards longer time to onset of menopause symptoms in HIV+ women and also more HIV+ patients were referred to specialists for a menopause diagnosis compared to HIV- women. Significantly less HIV+ women versus HIV- women were sexually active [63.9% versus 85.8% (p<0.001)] and less had a stable partner [64.8% versus 83.2% (p=0.003)]. Moreover, more HIV+ women had a decrease in libido [49.1% versus 33.6% (p=0.01)] and longer duration of menopause symptoms [41.3¡À47.6 versus 22.2¡À18.2 months (p=0.01)]. Matched HIV+/HIV- pairs showed a trend towards worse QoL, significantly reduced ¡°pain perception¡± mean scores [71¡À28 versus 77¡À21 (p=0.03)] and reduced ¡°mental health¡± [65¡À22 versus 75¡À18 (p=0.001)].
Discussion: Mature HIV+ women differ in marital and family status and sexual sphere from HIV- women with similar age. There was also a trend for lower QoL scores reported in HIV+ versus matched pairs of HIV- women. Sexual-related symptoms and behaviours observed in mature HIV+ women could mean an earlier menopause stage than in HIV- women, so a multidimensional management with special focus on this respect in HIV-infected women might be critical to improve their wellbeing and to help them to face aging and living with HIV.
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