Prevalence of sinonasal symptoms in patients with HIV infection

Am J Rhinol. 1999 May-Jun;13(3):203-8. doi: 10.2500/105065899781389696.

Abstract

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing in prevalence, and disease patterns are changing as patient survival lengthens. The purpose of this cross-sectional epidemiological study was to assess the prevalence and severity of self-reported symptoms of otolaryngologic disease in a group of patients attending a general HIV outpatient clinic (n = 203), and to compare the prevalence of self-reported symptoms with a sample of patients without HIV infection (n = 100). Of the HIV-infected patients, 65% of patients had AIDS, 35% were HIV-positive, and the median CD4 count was 135. Although only 11% of patients had seen an otolaryngologist in the prior 6 months, the majority of patients (66%) reported the presence of sinonasal disease during that time. Allergic rhinitis (80%) and sinusitis (54%) were the most commonly reported sinonasal symptoms, and 44% regularly used nasal or sinus medications. Sinonasal disease severity was significantly higher than the self-reported severity of mouth/throat disease (p = 0.01), ear disease (p = 0.03), and neck/salivary disease (p = 0.01). Although patients' self-reported overall health status was associated (p = 0.02) with CD4 count, the severity of sinonasal symptoms was not associated (p = 0.93) with CD4 count. Similarly, sinonasal symptom severity did not differ between HIV-positive and AIDS patients (p = 0.45). In other words, sinonasal disease severity did not improve as general health status improved.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / complications*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasal Obstruction / complications*
  • Nasal Obstruction / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Sinusitis / complications*
  • Sinusitis / epidemiology
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Texas / epidemiology