"Development in well-being and social function among Danish hemophilia patients with HIV: a three-wave panel study...

Between 1975 and 1985 a total of 91 Danish patients with moderate and severe hemophilia (PWH) was infected with HIV constituting a major scandal in the Danish health care system. This study describes the burden of HIV infection among Danish PWH by evaluating changes from 1988 to 2012 in well-being, social function, experiencing stigma and openness about disease among Danish HIV⁺ PWH.

Three anonymous surveys were conducted in 1988, 2001 and 2012 targeting all Danish patients with moderate to severe hemophilia. Survey responses were received from 53, 21 and 18 HIV⁺ PWH respectively. A matched comparison sample of HIV^- PWH was identified for each survey-year, using propensity score matching. Differences for each survey-year and trends over time were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression.

In 1988, HIV⁺ PWH had more psychosomatic symptoms than HIV^- PWH, but in 2001 life satisfaction was higher among HIV⁺ PWH than among HIV^- PWH. Tests of differences in trend over time showed larger improvements in life satisfaction among HIV⁺ PWH than HIV^- PWH, while HIV^- PWH showed an increase in educational level compared to HIV⁺ PWH. Analysis restricted to HIV⁺ PWH showed an increase in perceived stigmatization.

Differences between Danish HIV⁺ and HIV^- PWH regarding well-being and psychosomatic symptoms seem to have evened out between 1988 and 2012. However, results suggest that HIV⁺ PWH still experience stigmatization and lower levels of education.