Oral health and quality of life of people living with human T-cell leukemia virus-1 in Salvador, Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 204 seropositive patients, classified into two groups, symptomatic and asymptomatic. The first group included patients with neurological symptoms associated with HTLV-1 (n = 69), and the second group, asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (n = 135). We evaluated the total unstimulated saliva flow, oral mucosa, the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, and Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR). The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) measured the oral health-related quality of life. General health-related quality of life was measured by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Variables with a value of p < 0.25 in bivariate analysis were selected, together with SF-36 summaries' scores and total OHIP-14, for composing a logistic regression model that had symptomatology as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The OHIP-14 total score was poor in symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, but with no marked difference between them. Symptomatic patients showed significantly lower SF-36 scores (P ≤ 0.05) compared to asymptomatic ones, except for mental component summary (MCS). Family income (1-2.99 minimal wages), reduced salivary flow, flossing, and lower physical component summary (PCS) were associated (P ≤ 0.05) with symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic individuals living with HTLV-1 showed lower HRQoL and poorer OHRQoL compared to asymptomatic ones. Family income, flossing, reduced salivary flow, and lower PCS were associated with symptomatic HTLV-1 individuals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the present study, symptomatic individuals with HTLV-1 showed higher family income, poorer oral health status, lower salivary flow, poorer OHRQoL, and lower HRQoL compared to asymptomatic ones.

Changes health-related quality of life in HIV-infected patients following initiation of antiretroviral therapy: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Several tools have been developed to evaluate HIV health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during and after antiretroviral therapy (ART). Few longitudinal studies evaluated the effect of ART on the quality of life of HIV patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in HRQoL in HIV-infected individuals one year after initiating ART. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from May 2016 to July 2018. Data on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of 91 HIV-infected patients were collected prior to initiation of ART and one year thereafter. Demographic and clinical data were collected and the questionnaires 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life (HAT-QoL) were administered in both periods. Asymptomatic individuals, aged ≥18 years, were included in the study. Patients who discontinued treatment were excluded. The association between predictors of physical and mental HRQoL was analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male (78.0%), mean age 35.3 ±â€¯10.7 years, with no stable relationship (80.2%), and no comorbidities (73.6%). Most of the SF-36 domains improved after one year, particularly Physical Function (p = 0.0001), General Health (p = 0.0001), Social Functioning (p = 0.0001), Mental Health (p = 0.001), and Mental Component Summary (p = 0.004). HAT-QoL domains improved in the Overall Function (p = 0.0001), Life Satisfaction (p = 0.0001), Provider Trust (p = 0.001), and Sexual Function (p = 0.0001) domains. Sex (p = 0.032), age (p = 0.001), income (p = 0.007), and stable relationship (p = 0.004) were good predictors of the Physical Component Summary. Sex (p = 0.002) and stable relationship (p = 0.038) were good predictors of the Mental Component Summary. SF-36 and HAT-QoL scales presented strong correlations, except for Medication Concerns (0.15-0.37), HIV Mastery (0.18-0.38), Disclosure Worries (-0.15 to 0.07), and Provider Trust (-0.07 to 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: ART improved HRQoL after one year of use. The HAT-QoL and SF-36 correlated well and are good tools to evaluate HRQoL in HIV-infected patients on ART.

Changes health-related quality of life in HIV-infected patients following initiation of antiretroviral therapy: a longitudinal study

Abstract Background: Several tools have been developed to evaluate HIV health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during and after antiretroviral therapy (ART). Few longitudinal studies evaluated the effect of ART on the quality of life of HIV patients. Objective: To evaluate changes in HRQoL in HIV-infected individuals one year after initiating ART. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from May 2016 to July 2018. Data on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of 91 HIV-infected patients were collected prior to initiation of ART and one year thereafter. Demographic and clinical data were collected and the questionnaires 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life (HAT-QoL) were administered in both periods. Asymptomatic individuals, aged ≥18 years, were included in the study. Patients who discontinued treatment were excluded. The association between predictors of physical and mental HRQoL was analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Patients were predominantly male (78.0%), mean age 35.3 ± 10.7 years, with no stable relationship (80.2%), and no comorbidities (73.6%). Most of the SF-36 domains improved after one year, particularly Physical Function (p = 0.0001), General Health (p = 0.0001), Social Functioning (p = 0.0001), Mental Health (p = 0.001), and Mental Component Summary (p = 0.004). HAT-QoL domains improved in the Overall Function (p = 0.0001), Life Satisfaction (p = 0.0001), Provider Trust (p = 0.001), and Sexual Function (p = 0.0001) domains. Sex (p = 0.032), age (p = 0.001), income (p = 0.007), and stable relationship (p = 0.004) were good predictors of the Physical Component Summary. Sex (p = 0.002) and stable relationship (p = 0.038) were good predictors of the Mental Component Summary. SF-36 and HAT-QoL scales presented strong correlations, except for Medication Concerns (0.15-0.37), HIV Mastery (0.18-0.38), Disclosure Worries (−0.15 to 0.07), and Provider Trust (−0.07 to 0.15). Conclusions: ART improved HRQoL after one year of use. The HAT-QoL and SF-36 correlated well and are good tools to evaluate HRQoL in HIV-infected patients on ART.