Objective: The objective of this research was to identify the incidence and prevalence of body fat changes associated with HIV, and their correlation with health-related quality of life. Design: Cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive design Population, Sample, Setting: 165 HIV-infected persons in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. Variables: Health-related quality of life and lipodystrophic symptomatology in persons living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: Health-related quality of life was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 and the Living with HIV Scale. Symptoms were assessed using investigator-initiated open-ended questions. Findings: The mean age of the sample was 42.12 (SD + 8.29) and the mean number of years of formal education was 12.20 (SD + 2.45) years. Eighty percent (n=132) of the participants reported income as “barely enough” or “totally inadequate.” Approximately seventy-five percent (n=123) of the sample did not work for pay. On a scale of 0-100, the average score on quality of life variables was moderate to low, especially physical functioning, social functioning, and mental health. The mean score on the Living with HIV quality of life domains was moderate. Conclusions: There is a clear correlation between lipodystrophy symptom experiences and health-related quality of life in community-based samples of HIV-infected persons. It is reasonable to assume that work status/income may play an important role in illness representation and health outcomes appraisal. Implications: Further study is needed to define strategies that may be used by clients and their healthcare providers in order to diminish or eliminate HIV disease- and treatment-associated symptoms, and to enhance quality of life.
Back to Lipodystrophic Symptomatology, Medication Adherence, Depression, CAM Therapies, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons with HIV Disease
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