Author/Authors :
Tumusiime, David K University of the Witwatersrand - Johannesburg and Kigali Health Institute, Rwanda , Musabeyezu, Emmanuel King Faisal Hospital Kigali (KFH, K), Rwanda , Mutimurah, Eugene Regional Alliance for Sustainable Development (RASD), Rwanda , Hoover, Donald R. State University of New Jersey, USA , Shi, Qiuhu New York Medical College - School of Health Sciences and Practice, USA , Rudakemwa, Emmanuel King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda , Ndacyayisenga, Victorien Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK), Rwanda , Dusingize, Jean Claude Regional Alliance for Sustainable Development (RASD), Rwanda , Sinayobye, Jean D’Amour University of the Witwatersrand - Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences - Department of Physiotherapy, South Africa , Stewart, Aimee University of the Witwatersrand - Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences - Department of Physiotherapy, South Africa , Venter, Francois WD Witwatersrand Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI), South Africa , Venter, Francois WD University of the Witwatersrand - Department of Medicine, South Africa , Anastos, Kathryn Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Montefiore Medical Center, USA
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.
