Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Highly active antiretroviral treatment and health related quality of life in South African adults with human immunodeficiency virus infection: A cross-sectional analytical study
BMC Public Health, Volume 7, Article 244, Year 2007
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background. Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important outcome in times of Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART). We compared the HRQoL of HIV positive patients receiving HAART with those awaiting treatment in public sector facilities in the Free State province in South Africa. Methods. A stratified random sample of 371 patients receiving or awaiting HAART were interviewed and the EuroQol-profile, EuroQol-index and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared. Independent associations between these outcomes and HAART, socio-demographic, clinical and health service variables were estimated using linear and ordinal logistic regression, adjusted for intra-clinic clustering of outcomes. Results. Patients receiving HAART reported better HRQoL for 3 of the 5 EuroQol-dimensions, for the VAS score and for the EuroQol index in bivariable analysis. They had a higher mean EuroQol index (0.11 difference, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04; 0.23), and were more likely to have a higher index (odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.1; 1.3), compared to those awaiting HAART, in multivariate analysis. Higher mean VAS scores were reported for patients who were receiving HAART (6.5 difference, 95% CI 1.3; 11.7), were employed (9.1, 95% CI 4.3; 13.7) or were female (4.7, 95% CI 0.79; 8.5). Conclusion. HAART was associated with improved HRQoL in patients enrolled in a public sector treatment program in South Africa. Our finding that the EuroQol instrument was sensitive to HAART supports its use in future evaluation of HIV/AIDS care in South Africa. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate changes in individuals' HRQoL. © 2007 Louwagie et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Louwagie, Goedele M.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Bachmann, Max Oscar
United Kingdom, Norwich
University of East Anglia, Norwich Medical School
Meyer, Kobus
South Africa, Bloemfontein
University of the Free State
Booysen, Frikkie Le Roux
South Africa, Bloemfontein
University of the Free State
Fairall, Lara R.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Heunis, James Christoffel
South Africa, Bloemfontein
University of the Free State
Statistics
Citations: 91
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-7-244
e-ISSN:
14712458
Research Areas
Disability
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Case-Control Study
Study Locations
South Africa
Participants Gender
Female