PREVALENCE OF CUTANEOUS DISORDERS IN A POPULATION OF HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE, 1996

Objectives: To estimate the current extent of cutaneous disorders in a large population of ambulatory and hospitalized human immunodeficienc y virus (HIV)-infected patients and to describe characteristics associ ated with the presence of current skin manifestations. Design: Cross-s ectional survey. Setting: Hospital units participating in the hospital -based information system of the Groupe d'Epidemiologie Clinique du SI DA en Aquitaine, southwestern France. Patients: All the patients seen by physicians between November 18 and December 20, 1996, in the partic ipating units (hospital ward, outpatient clinic, or day hospital). Mai n Outcome Measures: Prevalence and cumulative incidence of cutaneous d isorders. Results: Four hundred fifty patients at all stages of HIV di sease were enrolled; 65.3% bad at least 1 skin manifestation during th e course of HIV infection. A history of skin disorder was reported for 269 patients (59.8%), and 199 patients (44.2%) had clinical dermatolo gic manifestations at the time of the study. The most frequent causes of cutaneous disorders were infections (fungal, viral, and bacterial), neoplasia, and miscellaneous disorders. Skin diseases were more likel y to be reported in homosexual and bisexual men and in patients with c linically and biologically advanced HIV infection. Conclusions: Cutane ous disorders occur more frequently as HIV infection advances and immu ne function deteriorates; however, they are common and of various type s throughout the course of HIV disease. Taking cutaneous disorders int o consideration for case management is essential to improve quality of life for HIV-infected patients.