RESUMO
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is linked to symptom status and may be related to age in HIV-positive persons. Data were collected in a multisite HIV-positive sample (N = 1,217) using an HIV-specific HRQOL and three symptom status instruments according to the Wilson and Cleary HRQOL model. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis found that younger age predicted higher sexual function (ΔR(2) = .12, p < .01) and older age predicted greater provider trust (ΔR(2) = .04, p < .01). No significant differences were found in symptom status or the other seven HRQOL dimensions. Although older HIV-positive persons reported more comorbidities, they did not report more symptoms.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento , Infecções por HIV , Qualidade de Vida , Distribuição por Idade , Comorbidade , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/enfermagem , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Throughout the history of the HIV epidemic, HIV-positive patients with relatively high CD4 counts and no clinical features of opportunistic infections have been classified as "asymptomatic" by definition and treatment guidelines. This classification, however, does not take into consideration the array of symptoms that an HIV-positive person can experience long before progressing to AIDS. This short report describes two international multi-site studies conducted in 2003-2005 and 2005-2007. The results from the studies show that HIV-positive people may experience symptoms throughout the trajectory of their disease, regardless of CD4 count or classification. Providers should discuss symptoms and symptom management with their clients at all stages of the disease.
Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Soropositividade para HIV/complicações , Soropositividade para HIV/imunologia , Humanos , Contagem de Linfócitos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Fatigue has been identified as a key complaint among patients with HIV/AIDS. Although having more than one disease is expected to increase symptom severity, this relationship has not been explored extensively. We investigated differences in fatigue severity together with the impact of demographic factors and the number of comorbidities and symptoms among patients with and those without comorbidities at 18 international clinical and community sites. Specific comorbidities and the number of symptoms associated with increased fatigue severity. Only by distinguishing fatigue as to its causes and patterns will health care providers be able to intervene specifically and thus more effectively.