Objectives: To estimate the current extent of cutaneous disorders in a large population of ambulatory and hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and to describe characteristics associated with the presence of current skin manifestations.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Hospital units participating in the hospital-based information system of the Groupe d'Epidémiologie Clinique du SIDA en Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Patients: All the patients seen by physicians between November 18 and December 20, 1996, in the participating units (hospital ward, outpatient clinic, or day hospital).
Main outcome measures: Prevalence and cumulative incidence of cutaneous disorders.
Results: Four hundred fifty patients at all stages of HIV disease were enrolled; 65.3% had at least 1 skin manifestation during the course of HIV infection. A history of skin disorder was reported for 269 patients (59.8%), and 199 patients (44.2%) had clinical dermatologic manifestations at the time of the study. The most frequent causes of cutaneous disorders were infections (fungal, viral, and bacterial), neoplasia, and miscellaneous disorders. Skin diseases were more likely to be reported in homosexual and bisexual men and in patients with clinically and biologically advanced HIV infection.
Conclusions: Cutaneous disorders occur more frequently as HIV infection advances and immune function deteriorates; however, they are common and of various types throughout the course of HIV disease. Taking cutaneous disorders into consideration for case management is essential to improve quality of life for HIV-infected patients.