Abstract
Objective: The number of HIV-infected women experiencing menopause is rapidly increasing. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and psychological health profile of menopausal women with and without HIV. Methods: Case-control study, assessing clinical manifestations of menopause in HIV infected cases and in uninfected controls. Determinants of physical (subclinical cardiovascular diseases, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism and risk of osteoporotic fractures) and psychological health (depression, quality of life in menopause and sexual dysfunction) were evaluated. The prevalence of poly-pathology (Pp) defined as the concurrent presence of 2 or more diseases was also assessed. Results: 29 (47.5%) HIV-infected and 32 (52.5%) HIV-uninfected postmenopausal women infection were enrolled. On average, menopause occurred 3 years earlier in HIV-infected than in uninfected women (p= .01). In spite of a trend toward a greater prevalence of Pp (p=.22), the only physical indicators differing between cases and controls were a greater risk profile for osteoporotic fracture (p<0.001) and a significantly increased arterial stiffness (p=.007). In addition, cases exhibited a poorer psychological health profile with regard to depression (p=.005), sexual dysfunction (p=.02) and physical menopausal symptoms (p=.05). Conclusion: In spite of a relatively similar physical health profile, menopause in HIV infected women is characterized by a poorer psychological profile compared to HIV uninfected women.
Highlights
The longer life expectancy of people living with HIV have led to a substantial change of HIV demography [1]
Inclusion criteria were postmenopausal status according to WHO definition and Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 33
61 post-menopausal women were enrolled in the study, 29 (47.5%) were HIV-infected and 32 (52,5%) were HIV-uninfected
Summary
The longer life expectancy of people living with HIV have led to a substantial change of HIV demography [1]. It is estimated that more than half of all HIV- infected patients in the United States will be over the age of 50 by the year 2015 [2]. The number of women with HIV experiencing menopause is increasing [3]. As a result of the virus activity and of the antiretroviral therapy, the menopausal transition has some unique clinical features among HIV infected patients [3]. Little is known about menopause in HIV patients. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and psychological health profile of postmenopausal women with and without HIV infection
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