NYMC Faculty Publications
Over-Reported Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms in a Cohort of HIV Infected and Uninfected Rwandan Women: The Need for Validated Locally Appropriate Questionnaires
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.4314/ahs.v14i2.24
Journal Title
African Health Sciences
First Page
460
Last Page
467
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2014
Department
Medicine
Keywords
Adult, Aged, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Female, HIV Infections, HIV Seronegativity, HIV-1, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Logistic Models, Middle Aged, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Rwanda, Severity of Illness Index, Surveys and Questionnaires, Women's Health, Young Adult
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (PNS) are commonly manifested in HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals, although data are limited on the prevalence and predictors of PNS in HIV+ patients from sub-Saharan Africa.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and predictors of PNS in HIV+ and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) Rwandan women.
METHODS: Data were analysed from 936 (710 HIV+ and 226 HIV-) women from the Rwanda Women Interassociation Study and Assessment (RWISA), an observational prospective cohort study investigating the effectiveness and toxicity of ART in HIV+ women.
RESULTS: Of 936 enrolled, 920 (98.3%) were included in this analysis with 44% of HIV- and 52% of the HIV+ women reporting PNS (p=0.06). CD4+ count was not associated with PNS, although there was a non-significant trend towards higher prevalence in those with lower CD4+ counts. For the HIV- women, only alcohol and co-trimoxazole use were independently associated with PNS. WHO HIV stage IV illness and albumin ≤ 3.5 were associated with PNS in HIV+ women.
CONCLUSIONS: The rate of peripheral neuropathy symptoms reported in this cohort of HIV-infected African women seems implausible, and rather suggests that the screening tool for peripheral neuropathy in culturally diverse African settings be locally validated.
Recommended Citation
Tumusiime, D. K., Musabeyezu, E., Mutimurah, E., Hoover, D. R., Shi, Q., Rudakemwa, E., Ndacyayisenga, V., Dusingize, J., Sinayobye, J., Stewart, A., Venter, F. W., & Anastos, K. (2014). Over-Reported Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms in a Cohort of HIV Infected and Uninfected Rwandan Women: The Need for Validated Locally Appropriate Questionnaires. African Health Sciences, 14 (2), 460-467. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v14i2.24
