Gluteal contour restoration in antiretroviral users and its quality-of-life related impacts: a historical cohort study

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), disease mortality has been dramatically reduced worldwide. One related side effect from the use of these drugs is gluteal lipodystrophy. The aim of this study is to assess the quality-of-life impact of correcting this deformity in HIV patients.

Methods:

A historical cohort study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2014 with 23 patients, assessing the quality of their lives using the Nottingham Health Profile. A statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar test for related samples.

Results:

There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative response in 19 of the 38 questions.

Conclusion:

We may say that gluteal reconstruction plays a role in improving quality of life for HIV patients who have been affected by antiretroviral related gluteal lipodystrophy.

Keywords:
Buttocks; HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome; Quality of life

RESUMO

Introdução:

Desde a introdução do tratamento do HIV com uso da terapia antirretroviral altamente ativa, a mortalidade por essa doença foi reduzida drasticamente em todo o mundo. Um dos parefeitos relacionados à utilização desses fármacos é a lipodistrofia glútea. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar o impacto da correção dessa deformidade na qualidade de vida de pacientes com HIV.

Métodos:

Foi conduzido um estudo de coorte histórica com 23 pacientes submetidos à gluteoplastia com implante intramuscular, entre janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2014, avaliando a qualidade de vida por meio do Nottingham Health Profile. As informações foram coletadas de julho a agosto de 2015. A análise estatística foi feita utilizando-se o Related-Samples McNemar Test.

Resultados:

Houve diferença significativa entre o pré-operatório e pós-operatório em 19 das 38 perguntas.

Conclusão:

É possível afirmar que a reconstrução glútea melhora a qualidade de vida de pacientes HIV positivos acometidos por lipodistrofia glútea relacionada a antirretrovirais.

Descritores:
Nádegas; Síndrome de lipodistrofia associada ao HIV; Qualidade de vida

INTRODUCTION

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), disease mortality has been reduced by about 50 to 80% worldwide¹. One related side effect is disturbance of adipose tissue distribution, known as lipodystrophy². Drugs more commonly associated with these effects are used widely in developing countries, such as Brazil³.

The prevalence of lipodystrophy has varied significantly in different international studies, ranging from 1% to 84%⁴. There are many risk factors associated with the development of fat distribution disorders, particularly in female patients⁵. The gender/syndrome relationship is important for plastic surgery because deformity resulting from antiretroviral treatment can become stigmatized, which will have negative impacts on the quality of life of HIV-positive women.

Evaluating quality of life in HIV patients has become crucial for clinical monitoring, as it assesses aspects which are often difficult to measure. Some protocols have been created with the aim of evaluating physical, social, emotional self-care and self-awareness⁶. Use of these instruments appears to be of fundamental importance for the evaluation of treatment in different areas of health care.

A major stigma caused by antiretroviral related lipodystrophy is the loss of gluteal contour. First performed in 1969 by Bartels⁷, gluteoplasty seeks to improve buttock contour by inserting prostheses. This technique has been improved over time by exponents, such as Mendieta⁸ and Gonzalez⁹, with intramuscular and subfascial variations that optimize results and reduce complications¹⁰.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to assess the role of reconstructive plastic surgery in the treatment of HIV patients by evaluating gluteal reconstruction impacts on those patients’ quality of life.

METHODS

A historical cohort study with HIV patients undergoing gluteal reconstruction from January 2010 to December 2014 in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil, was conducted. According to hospital records, the total population included 32 patients, contacted by phone for personal interviews.

We collected data on the surgical technique, early and late complications, and postoperative evolution related issues. A quality of life survey was also conducted, using the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire¹¹, an internationally validated tool that consists of 38 yes-no questions categorized into six major areas. For comparison purposes, the test was given using two approaches: (1) to evoke respondent feelings during the preoperative period; (2) to record current respondent feelings.

Answers were compared (preoperative vs postoperative) using the McNemar test for related- samples with IBM SPSS 20® software. Results were considered significant at p < 0.05. The project was approved by the Institutional Review Board and is registered in the Plataforma Brasil under CAAE 43504215.6.0000.5530. The research report was guided by the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist to ensure the methodological quality.

RESULTS

The responses of 23 patients were analyzed. Nine of the 32 patients initially scheduled were not found by the research team through identification data obtained from hospital records. Table 1 shows a sample profile, with the patients’ relative clinical features and the surgical technique used. Mean age was 45.8±8.72 years and 87% of the patients were women. The technique used was XYZ⁹ in all cases, with a prosthesis median volume of 330 mL (interquartile range: 50).

Table 1
Sample characteristics.

Characteristics
Mean age ± standard-deviation, years		45.8 ± 8.72
Gender	Male	13%
	Female	87%
Technique	XYZ	100%
Prosthesis volume (mL)#	330 (50)

• ^# Expressed in mean (interquartile range).

Patients quality of life results are shown in Table 2. A significant difference was found in 19 of the 38 responses, with the following division by section: one in the energy level section, one in the pain section, nine in the emotional reaction section, four in the sleep section, two in the social isolation section, and two in the physical abilities section.

Table 2
Applied questions with preoperative and postoperative responses.

Question	Preoperative		Postoperative		p	Section
	Yes	No	Yes	No
I'm tired all the time.	7	16	2	21	0,012#	EL
I experience pain at night.	4	19	5	18	1	P
Various things are putting me down.	12	11	4	19	0,000#	ER
I have unbearable pain.	5	18	0	23	0,031#	P
I take pills to help me sleep.	5	18	5	18	0,125	S
I've forgotten what it's like to enjoy myself.	9	14	4	19	0,002#	ER
I'm feeling on edge.	8	15	2	21	0,001#	ER
I find it painful to change position.	7	16	6	17	0,549	P
I feel lonely.	7	16	3	20	0,004#	SI
I can only walk when I’m indoors.	4	19	1	22	0,063	PA
I find it hard to bend.	5	18	2	21	0,219	PA
Everything requires a lot of effort.	6	17	3	20	0,063	EL
I've been waking up in the early hours of the morning.	9	14	5	18	0,004#	S
I'm unable to walk at all.	1	22	0	23	0,500	PA
I'm finding it hard to make contact with people.	6	17	4	19	0,070	SI
Days just seem to drag too long.	8	15	3	20	0,004#	ER
I have trouble getting up and down stairs and steps.	7	16	3	20	0,016#	PA
I find it hard to reach for things.	4	19	1	22	0,125	PA
I'm in pain when I walk.	5	18	3	20	0,180	P
I lose my temper easily these days.	8	15	6	17	0,012#	ER
I feel there is nobody that I am close to.	6	17	5	18	0,063	SI
I lie awake for most of the night.	7	16	2	21	0,001#	S
I feel as if I'm losing control.	7	16	5	18	0,031#	ER
I'm in pain when I'm standing.	7	16	4	19	0,070	P
I find it hard to get dressed by myself.	8	15	2	21	0,001#	PA
I soon run out of energy.	8	15	6	17	0,070	EL
I find it hard to stand for long (e.g. at the kitchen sink, waiting in a line).	6	17	4	19	0,063	PA
I'm in constant pain.	4	19	1	22	0,063	P
It takes me a long time to get to sleep.	8	15	4	19	0,001#	S
I feel I am a burden to people.	4	19	2	21	0,219	SI
Worry is keeping me awake at night.	10	13	7	16	0,008#	ER
I feel that life is not worth living.	6	17	1	22	0,004#	ER
I sleep badly at night.	8	15	6	17	0,021#	S
I'm finding it hard to get along with people.	10	13	4	19	0,002#	SI
I need help to walk about outside (e.g. a walking aid or someone to support me).	1	22	1	22	1	PA
I'm in pain when going up or down stairs.	4	19	2	21	0,063	P
I wake up feeling depressed.	9	14	6	17	0,004#	ER
I'm in pain when I'm sitting.	8	15	4	19	0,227	P

• ^#p < 0,05. Calculated with Related-Samples McNemar Test.
• EL: Energy level; P: Pain; ER: Emotional reaction; S: Sleep; SI: Social isolation; PA: Physical abilities.

DISCUSSION

These findings support the important role reconstructive gluteoplasty plays for HIV patients with antiretroviral related lipodystrophy¹². With nine questions presenting significant difference, the considerable impact on emotional reactions emphasizes the importance of reconstructive plastic surgery to improve the quality of life for these patients.

The authors are currently unaware of any similar research published this far, and this is the first publication to scientifically prove gluteoplasty as a tool to improve quality of life for HIV patients. These data could be a stimulus to include plastic surgeons as members of the multidisciplinary team for the treatment of HIV infection.

The concept of health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being¹³ reinforces the importance of humanized and comprehensive medical care. The focus on drug-related lipodystrophy patients body contour turns plastic surgery into an active element for the achievement of excellence in health care.

A study limitation here is that these data represent but a portion of the planned population, where only 23 of the 32 patients were included. This is a restricted sample, as this is a relatively uncommon procedure in

the Public Health System of Brazil. We cannot say that these represent all HIV patients in the realm of those who undergo gluteal reconstruction; however, it seems illogical to consider that data with such high statistical significance could be a matter of chance.

CONCLUSION

HIV patients with drug-related gluteal lipodystrophy have achieved quality of life improvements with gluteoplasty. The restoration of body contours is effective to improve social integration, emotional balance, and other psychosocial aspects of this population. Therefore, plastic surgeons must become members of these patients’ multidisciplinary health care team, intent on providing complete treatment and addressing their health with a global approach.

• Institution: Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  29 May 2023
• Date of issue
  2017

History

• Received
  04 Jan 2017
• Accepted
  09 July 2017