Abstract
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become a concept commonly used in the related research. Using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), this study evaluated the Quality of Life (QOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Zhejiang province, China, and assessed the influences of demographic, laboratory and disease-related variables on QOL. This cross-sectional study was conducted among PLWHA aged ≥ 18 years in Taizhou municipality, Zhejiang province, China, between August 1 and October 31, 2014. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influential factors. Of 403 subjects, 72.48% were male, 72.46% had received a high- school or above education, 94.79% were of Han ethnicity, and 65.51% were non farmers. The total score of QOL was 15.99±1.99. The scores of QOL in physiological, psychological, social relation, and environmental domains were 14.99 ±2.25, 14.25 ±2.12, 13.22 ±2.37, and 13.31 ±1.99 respectively. Except the total score of QOL and the score of environmental domain (p<0.05), the scores in other domains had no significant difference with the results of the national norm level. The multiple linear regression model identified the physical domain related factors to be age (β = -0.045), CD4 count (β = 0.002), and ART adherence(β = 1.231). And it also showed that psychological domain related factors included CD4 count (β = 0.002) and WHO clinical stage (β = -0.437); social domain related factors included WHO clinical stage (β = -0.704) and ART adherence (β = 1.177); while environmental domain related factors included WHO clinical stage (β = -0.538), educational status(β = 0.549) and ART adherence(β = 1.078).Those who are young, with higher level of education, higher CD4 count and good access and adherence of ART, are likely to have better QOL among PLWHA in Zhejiang province. This suggests that in addition to ART, many other factors should be taken into consideration to improve the QOL of PLWHA. The relatively lower scores the subjects received in social relation and environmental domains also suggest that social relation and environmental interventions need to be strengthened.
Highlights
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic infection that affects the patients’ physical condition, and their social relations, mental health and financial aspects[1]
There have been more than 78 million people infected with HIV by the end of 2013 with people living with HIV/AIDS amounted to 35 million[2]
Epidemic estimates show that China’s population of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is about 780,000
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic infection that affects the patients’ physical condition, and their social relations, mental health and financial aspects[1]. There have been more than 78 million people infected with HIV by the end of 2013 with people living with HIV/AIDS amounted to 35 million[2]. Epidemic estimates show that China’s population of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is about 780,000. Case reports of these patients reveal that 46.5% and 13.7% were infected through heterosexual transmission and homosexual transmission respectively. In Zhejiang, the majority of patients acquired HIV through sexual transmission, and the reported HIV infections have reached 11,357 by the end of 2012. In spite of its moderate HIV epidemic, risk factors such as high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and various entertainment venues providing sex service in main urban areas are driving the epidemic in Zhejiang province [6]. The local municipality has attached great importance to improving the living and traffic environment of PLWHA
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