Prevalence and Risk Factors for HIV-associated Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy in HIV-infected Adults in Daegu, Korea

Peripheral neuropathies complicate all stages of HIV infection and cause considerable morbidity and disability in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of HIV-associated symptomatic distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSPN) in the HAART era in Daegu, Korea. HIV-infected adults visiting two tertiary teaching hospitals in Daegu during a 2-month period (October 2008 to November 2008) were screened for HIV-DSPN. HIV-DSPN was defined as being present if the patient had neuropathic symptoms or abnormal neurologic signs. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were collected, and statistical analysis was done. One hundred fifty patients (136 patients in Kyungpook National University Hospital and 14 patients in Dongsan Medical Center) were screened. The prevalence of HIV-DSPN was 16.0% (24/150). In the univariate analysis, the statistically significant risk factors for symptomatic peripheral sensory neuropathy were older age [40.6±9.4 years in the DSPN(−) group vs. 46.2±9.5 years in the DSPN(+) group, p=0.009], diagnosis of AIDS [odds ratio: 4.605 (95% CI: 1.305∼16.256), p=0.011], and treatment of tuberculosis [odds ratio: 3.912 (95% CI: 1.352 ∼11.317), p=0.015]. In the multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio: 1.082, 95% CI: 1.024∼1.143, p=0.005) and diagnosis of AIDS (odds ratio: 7.861, 95% CI: 1.330∼46.452, p=0.023) were still significant risk factors. HIV-DSPN was not uncommon among ambulatory patients (16.0% prevalence) in Daegu, Korea, and more careful history taking and physical examination for HIV-DSPN should be performed in the management of older AIDS patients.