Skin conditions in persons living with HIV during hospital admission in the UK.

Background: The range of skin disease associated with advanced HIV infection is well described. Effective antiretroviral therapy has modified the spectrum of skin disease associated with HIV infection. Objectives: To characterize the profile of skin conditions occurring in a UK population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) during admission to a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective review of inpatient admission records was conducted for all patients admitted to a tertiary hospital between January 2018 and December 2022. Data were collected using a standardized data extraction form and analysed with Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistics. Results: We identified 199 patients [median age 53 years; interquartile range (IQR) 41.5-63.0]. The median duration of HIV infection was 12.75 years (IQR 6.10-19.58), with a median duration on antiretroviral therapy of 8 years (IQR 0-14) and a median CD4 count of 368 (IQR 90-656) on admission. In total, 303 cases of skin disease were identified; the majority were skin infections ( Conclusions: Cutaneous infection was the most common category of skin problem in this population of PLHIV during hospital admission. Bacterial cellulitis was the most common dermatological condition overall, while oral candidiasis was the most common condition in those with advanced HIV infection. Further work is needed to better characterize the profile of skin disease in PLHIV, including in larger prospective cohorts and outpatient settings.