A LONGITUDINAL QUALITY-OF-LIFE STUDY OF HIV-INFECTED PERSONS IN SOUTH INDIA: THE CASE FOR COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

This study longitudinally assesses the quality of life (QOL) of HIV-infected individuals in a resource-limited setting prior to the extensive generic roll-out of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Data was collected on 136 individuals receiving clinical care at Y.R.Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education YRG CARE, a large community-based HIV tertiary care referral center in Chennai, South India. The QOL questionnaire was administered to participants at baseline, 6-months follow-up, and 12-month follow-up, and analysis of variance was used to assess for significant differences in mean QOL scores for each of these visits. Study findings showed that QOL scores significantly improved in all five domains of the questionnaire between participants' baseline visit, second interview, and third interviews (p < 0.01). We conclude that a multidisciplinary approach to managing HIV infection can enhance patients' QOL, independent of antiretroviral therapy.