A prospective study of demographic features and quality of life in HIV-positive women with cervical cancer treated at Tygerberg Hospital
Date
2015-09-18
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) both have a high incidence in South Africa. Cervical
cancer treatment of HIV-positive women poses challenges. Treatment-related changes in
quality of life (QOL) of such women are important to future treatment protocols.
Aim: To examine demographic data of HIV-negative and HIV-positive women at diagnosis of
cervical cancer and describe their changes in QOL as a result of treatment.
Methods and materials: All newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer at Tygerberg
Hospital were approached to participate in the study. The European Organisation for
Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)
and the Cervix Cancer Module (QLQ-CX24) were used. General QOL was measured with
the EORTC QLQ-C30 and cervical-specific QOL with the QLQ-CX24 questionnaire. The
patients completed the questionnaire at diagnosis, on completion of treatment and at
3 months’ follow-up.
Results: The study included a total of 221 women of whom 22% were HIV-positive; the
latter were younger and of higher educational level than the rest. Mean monthly income and
stage distribution was similar between the two groups. HIV-positive patients underwent
radiation therapy more commonly than chemoradiation. HIV-positive women showed
statistically significantly higher loss to follow-up during the study. HIV-positive women
experienced no improvement in insomnia, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, social
role or any of the sexual domains. In contrast, HIV-negative women experienced statistically
significant improvement in all sexual domains other than sexual/vaginal functioning. The
QOL improvement of HIV-negative women was statistically significantly greater than their
HIV-positive counterparts in the majority of QOL domains. Global health improved in both
groups, with HIV-negative women experiencing greater improvement. HIV-positive women
experienced an initial decline of peripheral neuropathy (PN) symptoms post treatment with
a return to pretreatment values at 3 months’ follow-up. The change in PN was statistically
significant between the HIV-negative and HIV-positive women.
Conclusion: Demographic differences exist between the HIV-negative and HIV-positive
groups. The differential outcome in the QOL of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women treated
for cervical cancer might be related to persistence of AIDS-related symptoms on completion of
cervical cancer treatment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
Description
CITATION: Du Toit, G. & Kidd, M. 2015. A prospective study of demographic features and quality of life in HIV-positive women with cervical cancer treated at Tygerberg Hospital. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, 16(1), Art.
#368, doi:10.4102/sajhivmed.v16i1.368.
The original publication is available at http://www.sajhivmed.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.sajhivmed.org.za
Keywords
Cervical cancer, HIV-positive women
Citation
Du Toit, G. & Kidd, M. 2015. A prospective study of demographic features and quality of life in HIV-positive women with cervical cancer treated at Tygerberg Hospital. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, 16(1), Art.
#368, doi:10.4102/sajhivmed.v16i1.368.