COMORBIDITIES OF PATIENTS LIVING WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN THE POST–COMBINED ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ERA

Abstract

Objective The life expectancy of people positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased since the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (CART). There was a decrease in opportunistic infections in this population, but on the other hand, there were side effects to medications and medical conditions related to longevity. The main of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of selected comorbidities that may affect the delivery of oral health care to patients positive for HIV. Methods The authors examined 439 patients positive for HIV who had sought dental treatment from 2006 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2017. The authors abstracted patients' self-reported clinical comorbidities and laboratory-verified HIV-related and hematologic values. Results A total of 96.2% percent of the study patients had at least 1 comorbidity. Comorbidity prevalence was 44% percent for psychiatric disorders, 41% for lipodystrophy, and 39% for anemia. Lipodystrophy and psychiatric disorders were more prevalent on patients seen from 2016 to 2017 (P < .05). Hypertension and diabetes were the most seen among 50 years old individuals or older (P < .05). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection affected 19% of the participants. Conclusions Patients positive for HIV under CART have a broad range of comorbidities that may affect the provision of oral health care. The life expectancy of people positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased since the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (CART). There was a decrease in opportunistic infections in this population, but on the other hand, there were side effects to medications and medical conditions related to longevity. The main of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of selected comorbidities that may affect the delivery of oral health care to patients positive for HIV. The authors examined 439 patients positive for HIV who had sought dental treatment from 2006 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2017. The authors abstracted patients' self-reported clinical comorbidities and laboratory-verified HIV-related and hematologic values. A total of 96.2% percent of the study patients had at least 1 comorbidity. Comorbidity prevalence was 44% percent for psychiatric disorders, 41% for lipodystrophy, and 39% for anemia. Lipodystrophy and psychiatric disorders were more prevalent on patients seen from 2016 to 2017 (P < .05). Hypertension and diabetes were the most seen among 50 years old individuals or older (P < .05). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection affected 19% of the participants. Patients positive for HIV under CART have a broad range of comorbidities that may affect the provision of oral health care.