Abstract #2689  -  Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life and sexual sphere in HIV+ young women in Spain. EVhA-1 Study (EVhA Stages Project).
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Mrs Cristina De Alvaro - AbbVie
Additional Authors:  Dra. Piedad Arazo, Dra. Rosa Polo, Dra. Celia  Miralles, Dra. Mª José Mellado, Dra.  Mª Jesús Pérez-Elías, Dra.  Mª José Galindo, Dr. Angel Burgos, Dra. Cristina De Alvaro, Dra. Esther Cabrero,
Aim: Women are a special population with specific clinical, metabolic, and social characteristics. The interest to study HIV infection (HIV+) in women has increased however there are still important topics to investigate including HIV+ infection among women of different age groups. In Spain, most young women (<18 or slightly older) are still followed-up by paediatricians and in the near future they will enter into adult HIV Units. On this regard, the results of this study may help physicians provide better care to HIV+ young women and organize the transition to adult units properly.
Method / Issue: The EVhA-1 is an epidemiological, multicenter, cross-sectional, case-control study in Spain in HIV+ young women (aged 16-22 years) on stable antiretroviral treatment ¡Ý3 months. HIV+ women were matched to HIV- women by age, relationship and socio-cultural status. In this communication, the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, Quality of Life (QoL), and sexual sphere were compared between young HIV+ and HIV- women. QoL was measured among the paired women using validated tools: Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) and the Health Survey SF-36. Sexual sphere was evaluated using an ad-hoc designed survey.
Results / Comments: 54 young HIV+ women and 59 young HIV- women from 15 hospital sites (April-November 2011) were included in this analysis. There were 46 matched HIV+/HIV- pairs. Most HIV+ women acquired HIV through vertical transmission (94.4%) and had a mean age (SD) (compared to HIV- women) of 18.5¡À2.0 versus 18.9¡À2.0 years, p=0.40. Among HIV+ and HIV- women, 79.6% versus 79.7% HIV- were Caucasian, 16.7% versus 8.5% were black, and 1.9% versus 11.9% were Hispanic (p=0.09), respectively. Weight and height were significantly lower in HIV+ versus HIV- women: 55¡À8 versus 60¡À13 kg (p=0.025) and 160¡À7 versus 163¡À6 cm (p=0.02), respectively, although BMI was similar. The majority of HIV+ versus HIV- women were single (96.2% vs. 96.6%, p=0.298) and differed in living with: parents, 35.2% versus 59.3% father or mother, 20.4% versus 23.7% or tutors, 27.8% versus 3.4%, (p=0.003). The proportion of HIV+ versus HIV- young women who achieved primary level of education was 16.7% versus 8.5% secondary, 79.6% versus 64.4% and university, 3.7% versus 27.1% (p=0.002). There were no significant differences in most sexual sphere habits, although 60.7% of HIV+ versus 8.6% HIV- women have inquired their doctor about pregnancy (p<0.001) and 25.7% versus 5.3% have been pregnant at least once (p=0.016). The comparison between paired HIV+/HIV- young women showed a trend towards worse QoL in ¡°energy and vitality¡± and ¡°mental health¡± items, and differences were only significant for ¡°pain¡± perception, 77¡À16 versus 86¡À16 (p=0.02).
Discussion: This cross-sectional study showed few socio-demographic differences between 16 to 22 years-old HIV+ and HIV- women including increased single status, less education, and a lower weight and height in HIV+ women. A trend towards a lower overall QoL score and a higher score for pain perception were found among HIV+ women. Noteworthy, HIV+ young women had more knowledge and experience in pregnancy, although further exploratory studies in this sexual sphere might be needed.
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