Quality of life of HIV patients and influential factors

To identify quality of life in HIV patients and to investigate associated factors.

A cross-sectional comparative study of HIV patients visiting the outpatient clinic at Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Hospital and Dharmais Cancer Hospital was conducted between March and June 2003. Subjects were patients willing to fill in the SF-36 questionnaire, and willing to undergo physical examination and laboratory tests. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the determinant factors that dominantly affect the quality of life in HIV patients.

From 107 HIV subjects, we found poor quality of life. The score of HIV patients' quality of life components was as follows: mean physical function 49.2, social function 46.4, limitations due to physical factor 43.2, limitations due to emotional factor 48.8, mental health 50.7, energy 48.8, pain 54.7 and general health 42.7. The mean quality of life score for physical components in HIV patients was 47.45 while the mean quality of life score for mental components was 48.075. Factors that dominantly contribute to the quality of life in HIV patients are, respectively, the presence of opportunistic infection (p=0.001 OR=5.297 CI 1.974-14.218) and ARV therapy for more than 3 months (p=0.048 OR=4.487 CI 1.011-19.908).

Both physical and mental components in HIV patients demonstrated poor quality of life. Factors that dominantly contribute to the quality of life in HIV patients are, the presence of opportunistic infection and ARV therapy for more than 3 months.