Global Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known as one of the most chronic conditions, having significant effects on physical and mental health status in infected individuals, and thus reducing their quality of life (QoL).Materials and Methods: The data were initially collected from the databases of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, from January ۲۰۰۰ to September ۲۰۲۰, on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The data were then analyzed by using the R software.Results: A total number of ۲۵ research articles addressing the QoL in ۵,۹۵۲ HIV/AIDS patients were evaluated by means of three valid questionnaires, including the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), the ۳۶-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-۳۶), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life in HIV-Infected Persons (WHOQoL-HIV). Based on the MOS-HIV, the SF-۳۶, and the WHOQoL-HIV questionnaires the QoL mean score in HIV/AIDS patients were was ۵۱.۸۰ (۴۹.۴-۵۴.۵۷), ۵۴.۸۱ (۵۲.۶۸-۵۶.۹۳), and ۱۳.۶۲ (۱۱.۹۷-۱۵.۲۶) , respectively.Conclusion: Overall, the QoL in HIV/AIDS patients in this study was acceptable even though further changes and studies are still required to support the findings.

Keywords:

“Quality of Life , QoL , AIDS , HIV , Global , Systematic Review”