Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2017 - Comorbidity - double jeopardy | ||||
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Session: 23.2: Comorbidity - double jeopardy (Parallel) on Wednesday @ 16.30-18.00 in 202 Chaired by Margalit Lorber, Simon Rackstraw Authors: Presenting Author: Prof. Marco Pereira - University of Coimbra, Portugal |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Although co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming one of the leading causes of mortality in the context of HIV infection, the studies that have assessed the quality of life and mental health of patients with this co-infection are still limited. Despite the fact that gender is an important marker for individual differences in psychosocial and life situation variables, this variable has not been systematically studied so far in the context of co-infection with HIV and HCV. The aim of this study was to examine the sex differences in the quality of life and psychological distress of patients living with HIV/HCV. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The sample of this prospective study consisted of 247 patients co-infected with HIV and HCV, who were recruited from 10 Portuguese hospitals. The assessment protocol included the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the quality of life instrument WHOQOL-HIV-Bref. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Of the 247 co-infected patients, 46 (18.6%) were female. Compared to male patients, females were more likely to be more educated and to live with a partner. No significant differences were found in HIV-related variables. Female patients reported significantly lower quality of life [Wilks’ lambda = .90, F(7, 237) = 3.99, p < .001]. Specifically, females were significantly more impaired in the Psychological and Spirituality domains than were male patients. Regarding the specific facets of quality of life, female patients with HIV/HCV co-infection reported significantly lower scores in 5 of the 29 facets: cognitions, body image and appearance, negative feelings, death and dying, and fear of the future. Females also reported increased psychological distress [Wilks’ lambda = .97, F(3, 241) = 2.72, p = ..045]. The proportion of patients reporting clinically significant psychological distress was significantly higher among female patients (26.1% vs. 10.4% ?2 = 7.91, p = .008). | ||||
| Discussion: This study shows that female co-infected patients are more negatively affected in their quality of life and mental health than male patients. Healthcare providers should reflect the sex differences on quality of life and psychological distress when planning mental health services for the co-infected population. These findings also suggest that routine assessment of psychological distress should be integrated in all HIV and HCV services. | ||||
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