Prevalence and predictors of skin disease in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)

Objective: We attempted to determine the prevalence and predictors of skin disease in a cohort of women with and at risk for HIV infection. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from a multicenter longitudinal study of HIV infection in women. Results: A total of 2018 HIV-infected women and 557 HIV-uninfected women we re included in this analysis. Skin abnormalities were reported more frequen tly among HIV-infected than uninfected women (63% vs 44%, respectively; odd s ratio [OR] 2.10; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.74-2.54). Infected w omen were also more likely to have more than 2 skin diagnoses (OR, 3.27; 95 % CI, 1.31-8.16). Folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, herpes tester, and o nychomycosis were more common among HIV-infected women (P < .05). Independe nt predictors of abnormal findings on skin examination in the infected wome n were African American race (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.07-1.77), injection drug use (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.11-3.57), CD4(+) count less than 50 (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.17-2.42), and high viral loads (100,000-499,999 = OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.32-2.37; >499,999 = OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.42-3.27). Conclusion: HIV infection was associated with a greater number of skin abno rmalities and with specific dermatologic diagnoses. Skin abnormalities were also more common among women with CD4(+) cell depletion or higher viral lo ad.