Quality of life people living with HIV/AIDS: outpatient in Kramat 128 Hospital Jakarta.

AIM

to provide an overview of the quality of life (OQL) for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Jakarta, particularly in the Kramat 128 Hospital, based on CD4 and viral load (VL) levels and the length of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

METHODS

a cross-sectional study performed at Kramat 128 Hospital Jakarta Outpatient Clinic from November 2010 to January 2011. Quality of life was assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The data were analyzed using Chi-Square test, independent T-test, and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test.

RESULTS

the mean score in four domains of QOL in descending order were psychological (72.27), physical health (70.10), environment (65.59), and social relationships (64.44). There were a significant differences in overall QOL (p=0.000) and general health (p=0.001) between lower and higher CD4 levels. Patients who were interviewed look healthy physically and psychologically, have a good QOL based on statistical analysis. Patients with undetectable VL levels had better in general health (p=0.012), and those with longer ARV therapy (>1 year) had better overall QOL (p=0.024) and general health (p=0.003). Analysis with four domains of QOL showed a significant relationship of CD4 levels with the physical health (p=0.001) and psychological domain (p=0.043). VL levels showed significant relationships with the four domains of QOL (p<0.05). Duration of ARV therapy showed a significant association only with physical health domain (p=0.015).

CONCLUSION

higher CD4 levels, undetectable VL, and longer ARV therapy will increase patient's QOL. Higher QOL will make the patient have ability to cope with illness. So, a better QOL can be taken as indicator of successful ARV treatment.