Associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with quality of life: A cross-sectional study of older-age people with and without HIV in rural Uganda

Perceived health-related quality of life in people living with HIV co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) and its correlates among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France.

METHODS

This cross-sectional was study conducted among PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2. HRQL was measured using the four dimensions of the PROQOL-HIV scale. Factors associated with each dimension were identified using linear regression.

RESULTS

mean (SD) scores for HRQL dimensions: 76.7 (± 21.1) for Physical Health and Symptoms (PHS), 79.2 (± 23.6) for Social Relationships (SR), 67.3 (± 27.4) for Mental and Cognitive (MC), and 83.9 (± 16.5) for Treatment Impact (TI). Employment status and COVID-19 knowledge were associated with higher PHS score, while blood transfusion-acquired HIV, CDC HIV, hospital discharge instructions, and self-reported symptoms were associated with lower PHS score. Couple status was associated with higher SR score, whereas, hospital discharge instructions, CDC HIV stage C, drug injection-acquired HIV, self-reported symptoms, and COVID-19 vulnerability perception were associated with lower SR score. Employment status and French birth were associated with higher MC score, while female sex, detectable HIV viral load, hospital discharge instructions, COVID-19 vulnerability perception, smoking, and self-reported symptoms were associated with lower MC score. French birth and homosexual/bisexual relationships-acquired HIV were associated with higher TI score, while detectable HIV viral load, psychiatric disorders, and self-reported symptoms were associated with lower TI score CONCLUSION: Among PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, the scores of HRQL were impaired, particularly in the MC dimension. Findings underscore the multidimensional nature of HRQL, with notable variations across different dimensions. Understanding these correlates is crucial for tailored interventions aimed at improving the well-being of this population.

The impact of geriatric syndromes on quality of life among older people living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda

Objective

Older people living with HIV (OPWH) often have lower quality of life (QoL) compared to general population. Measuring their QoL is an important step in HIV care to ensure they have long healthy lives. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and its associated factors among people living with HIV aged 60 years and above in Uganda.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional analysis of older people living with HIV (OPWH) enrolled in a prospective cohort from December 2020 - December 2021. Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organisation QoL OLD instrument (WHOQOL-OLD). Linear regression model was used to determine associated factors.

Results

Of the 500 participants enrolled, 51.2% were men and their median age was 64 years (IQR: 62 - 68). WHOQOL-OLD mean score (SD) was 90.1 (8.3) out of 120. Factors that increased overall QoL were (Coefficient [95% Confidence Interval]): being male 2.35 (1.21 - 3.73), having an income of ≥$1 1.30 (-0.16 - 2.76) and paradoxically having more than 2 non-communicable diseases 0.69 (-0.76 - 2.14) in the past, present and future domain of QoL. Those that decreased QoL in the overall and various domains included: an increasing number of geriatric syndromes, depression, pre-frailty, frailty, malnutrition, and low physical function.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that financial stability contributed to good QoL while geriatric syndromes decreased QoL for OPWH. Integrating the screening and management of geriatric syndromes into HIV care has the potential to improve the overall QoL of OPWH.