CLIMACTERIC WOMEN HIV SEROPOSITIVE: MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS, SEXUAL FUNCTION, METABOLIC SYNDROME AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY

• Grant number: 10/16025-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena Simões da Costa Paiva
• Grantee: Ana Lúcia Ribeiro Valadares
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to the HIV positive women increasing longevity, these women are experiencing the menopausal symptoms simultaneously with the metabolic alterations related to the HIV infection and to the use of antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which may influence their well-being and psychological and sexual behaviors. Aiming at knowing the relation between climacteric symptoms, sexual function, metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density with the presence of HIV and its treatment, a cross-sectional study, quantitative in nature is proposed, investigating women aged 40 to 60 years, being 241 HIV-positive and 241 HIV-seronegative. The data collection with be carried on with the use of an interview, clinical examination, and laboratory tests. Climacteric symptoms will be evaluated through the use of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire, and the sexual function through the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire (SPEQ). The metabolic syndrome will be assessed by waist circumference measurement, serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure measurement. Bone mineral density will be measured by the X-ray dual-energy (DXA) absorption, with the use of Hologic. Chi-square and multivariate analysis using Poisson regression will be the statistical instruments for the treatment of quantitative data. It is expected that menopausal symptoms will be more frequent and intense in HIV positive women than in HIV negative, and sexual dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis will be more prevalent in HIV-positive women as well.