Quality of life among urban Canadian HIV/AIDS clinic outpatients

Perceived health-related quality of life (QOL) of 113 adult people living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) attending an outpatient hospital clinic was assessed upon initial registration using the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36. QOL ratings on both physical functioning and psychological well-being aspects of the SF-36 were lower than for the general population, especially among PHA in the sample who were symptomatic or for whom AIDS had developed. Although not compromised in terms of physical functioning, asymptomatic PHA had well-being QOL scores comparable to other chronic medical conditions. In general, demographic, social, and many of the health and immune status variables examined were not significantly related to QOL. Number of symptoms was negatively associated with both physical status and emotional well-being dimensions of QOL. PHA in the asymptomatic stage of HIV infection reported better QOL than symptomatic/AIDS patients on few QOL dimensions. Mean QOL ratings did not significantly differ between AIDS patients and those with symptomatic (non-AIDS) infection. These findings suggest that although becoming symptomatic has a significant impact on a majority of dimensions of QOL, being diagnosed with HIV affects well-being dimensions the most. An emphasis on support for both adjusting to diagnosis and symptom management is as important as viral suppression in maximizing QOL for PHA.