P99 Skin disease in people living with HIV in the UK: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Abstract The spectrum of skin disease associated with advanced HIV infection is well described and can vary between countries, potentially as a result of genetic differences and access to antiretroviral treatment (ART). Effective ART has modified the skin manifestations of HIV in the modern era. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of skin disease in a UK-based population of people living with HIV (PLHIV). A retrospective review of inpatient admission records was conducted of all patients admitted to a tertiary hospital between June 2020 and October 2022. Data were collected using a standardized data extraction form in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive analysis was undertaken within Excel. Ninety-seven patients were identified (median age 55 years), of whom 82 (85%) were male. Median duration of HIV infection was 15 years [interquartile range (IQR) 8.66–19.58], with a median duration on ART of 9 years (IQR 3–16). Fourteen patients were ART naïve and were diagnosed as being HIV positive on admission. Median CD4 count at presentation was 351 × 106 cells L−1 (IQR 136–579). Fifty-five patients presented with a single dermatological condition, 30 presented with 2 and 10 presented with 3. Of the conditions identified, 48% were skin infections, 18% were skin tumours, 10% were inflammatory dermatoses and 2.8% were drug reactions. In the remaining 21%, the diagnosis was unknown; this included rashes (44%), skin lesions (33%) and ulcers (22%). The most common dermatological condition identified was cellulitis (n = 18; 19%). Of the infections seen, 46% were primary bacterial infections, 27% were primary viral infections, 22% were primary fungal, 3% were primary parasitic and 1% were systemic bacterial infection with skin involvement. Ten per cent of patients presented with Kaposi sarcoma, an AIDS-defining illness. Of the 97 patients, 27% presented with advanced HIV (CD4 < 200 × 106 cells L−1). The most common conditions in this group were oral candidiasis (30%), cellulitis (15%), seborrhoeic dermatitis (15%) and Kaposi sarcoma (15%). Bacterial skin infections were the most common dermatological conditions overall, while oral candidiasis was the most common condition in those with advanced HIV. The causes of almost one-quarter of dermatological presentations were unknown during inpatient admission, highlighting the importance of expert dermatological input. Further work is needed to validate these findings in a larger population of PLHIV, including those managed in an outpatient setting.