Wu AW, Lichter SL, Richardson W, Urbanski PA, Benson C, Sattler FR, Chaisson R; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: B178 (abstract no. PoB 3550).

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

OBJECTIVE: To measure quality of life in persons with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection and AIDS enrolled in a trial of Clarithromycin. METHODS: Sixty-eight subjects enrolled in a double-blind, dose-ranging trial of clarithromycin monotherapy (ACTG 157) participated in this substudy. Subjects had clinical signs and symptoms of MAC and positive blood cultures. We measured quality of life using the 30-item MOS-HIV health survey (subscales scored 0-100) supplemented with a symptom impact scale. Subjects at one site were followed for 12 weeks and completed the questionnaire at 4 week intervals. Treatment effects were calculated using paired and unpaired t-tests. RESULTS: Baseline scores were lower than for previously studied HIV-infected persons without AIDS. Mean baseline scores (n = 68) included: overall health 16, physical functioning 41, social functioning 42, energy 31, mental health 63, and quality of life 50. The MOS-HIV demonstrated similar reliability and concurrent validity to values obtained in persons with earlier stages of HIV disease. Cronbach's alpha for multi-item scales ranged from .75-.90. Mean quality of life scores improved at all time points for all aspects measured. After 4 weeks on study, patients (n = 28) reported significantly improved overall health (+17, p = .0001), social functioning (+18, p = .001), quality of life (+13, p = .001), more energy (+10, p = .02), and were less bothered by symptoms (p = .0001). Results were similar at 8 weeks (n = 24). At 12 weeks, patients (n = 18) reported significantly better overall health, social functioning, and energy, and fewer symptoms. Although our findings are limited by patient attrition, these preliminary results are consistent with a positive effect of treatment on quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Although conclusions about the dose-effect of clarithromycin await unblinding of the study, patients showed significant improvement at each time point in aspects of quality of life including overall health, social functioning, energy, and symptom burden.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Life
• Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection
• Quality of Life
• Questionnaires

Other ID:

• 92401280

UI: 102198993

From Meeting Abstracts