Quality of life in HIV infection

HIV infection gives rise to incurable, debilitating disease in young persons and treatments capable of prolonging survival are often associated with toxicity. Quality of Life (QOL) assessment is therefore important in the evaluation of clinical interventions in HIV-infected patients. It also has a role in determining the needs of individuals and directing healthcare resources. A wide range of QOL instruments is available and choice of instrument should be guided by the information required. As would be expected, poorer QOL is correlated with the presence of disease-related symptoms and advancing WHO clinical stage of disease. Psychological dysfunction, however, is evident from the time of diagnosis and should not be overlooked.