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Journal article
Current patient perspectives of vulvovaginal candidiasis: incidence, symptoms, management and post-treatment outcomes
BMC women's health, Vol.19(1), 48
29 Mar 2019
PMID: 30925872
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infection affecting women worldwide. Reports of patterns/risk factors/trends for episodic/recurrent VVC (RVVC) are largely outdated. The purpose of this study was to obtain current patient perspectives of several aspects of VVC/RVVC.
Methods
Business cards containing on-line survey information were distributed to healthy volunteers and patients seeking standard, elective, or referral gynecologic care in university-affiliated Obstetrics/Gynecology clinics. The internet-based questionnaire was completed by 284 non-pregnant women (78% Caucasian, 14% African American, 8% Asian).
Results
The majority of the participants (78%) indicated a history of VVC with 34% defined as having RVVC. The most common signs/symptoms experienced were itching, burning and redness with similar ranking of symptoms among VVC and RVVC patients. Among risk factors, antibiotic use ranked highest followed by intercourse, humid weather and use of feminine hygiene products. A high number of respondents noted no known cause' (idiopathic episodes) that was surprisingly similar among women with a history of either VVC or RVVC. VVC/RVVC episodes reported were primarily physician-diagnosed (73%) with the remainder mostly reporting self-diagnosis and treating with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Most physician-diagnosed attacks utilized a combination of pelvic examination and laboratory tests followed by prescribed antifungals. Physician-treated cases achieved a higher level of symptom relief (84%) compared to those who self-medicated (57%). The majority of women with RVVC (71%) required continual or long-term antifungal medication as maintenance therapy to control symptoms.
Conclusions
Current patient perspectives closely reflect historically documented estimates of VVC/RVVC prevalence and trends regarding symptomatology, disease management and post-treatment outcomes.
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Details
- Title
- Current patient perspectives of vulvovaginal candidiasis: incidence, symptoms, management and post-treatment outcomes
- Creators
- Junko Yano - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New OrleansJack D. Sobel - Wayne State UniversityPaul Nyirjesy - Drexel Univ, Coll Med, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USARyan Sobel - Thomas Jefferson University HospitalValerie L. Williams - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New OrleansQingzhao Yu - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New OrleansMairi C. Noverr - Tulane UniversityPaul L. Fidel - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
- Publication Details
- BMC women's health, Vol.19(1), 48
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) U54 GM104940 / LSUHSC Foundation (PLF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000462894100001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85063753254
- Other Identifier
- 991021860692304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health