Health-Related Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS Management

The concept of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become central to HIV/AIDS care as antiretroviral therapy (ART) transforms infection into a chronic condition. HRQoL encompasses multiple domains—including physical health, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and environmental context—that collectively influence overall wellbeing. While viral suppression and immunological stability are primary clinical objectives, attention to mental health, comorbidities and social determinants such as stigma and income support is essential to optimise long-term outcomes. Patient-centred assessment tools, many adapted from generic and HIV-specific scales, provide standardised measures to monitor changes over time and to guide holistic interventions. Emerging evidence underscores the interplay between mental health, sleep quality and social support and highlights the need for integrated care models that address the broader determinants of health. Focusing on HRQoL not only informs individualised care but also shapes policy priorities, resource allocation and community-based strategies to reduce disparities and improve wellbeing among diverse populations living with HIV/AIDS.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent large-scale cohort analyses have quantified HRQoL domains among people living with HIV, revealing that while physical and environmental scores often remain relatively high under effective ART, social and psychological dimensions lag behind. Studies using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument demonstrate that multimorbidity, persistent HIV-related stigma and socioeconomic constraints consistently predict poorer HRQoL across all domains. These findings have prompted calls for health systems to shift beyond sole emphasis on viral suppression towards integrated, person-centred care. A global consensus statement by leading experts advocates embedding mental health services, chronic disease management and anti-stigma interventions within routine HIV care pathways. By addressing structural and psychosocial barriers alongside biomedical treatment, these frameworks aim to sustain long-term wellbeing and equity in HIV-affected communities.

Health-Related Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in health-related quality of life in hiv/aids management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL): A multidimensional construct encompassing physical, mental, social and environmental wellbeing as perceived by individuals.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): The combination of medications used to suppress HIV replication and restore immune function.

Viral Suppression: The reduction of HIV RNA in the blood to undetectable levels, indicating effective treatment.

Comorbidity: The presence of one or more additional medical or psychological conditions coexisting with HIV.

Stigma: Negative attitudes and beliefs that lead to social disapproval and discrimination against people living with HIV.

WHOQOL-BREF: A shortened World Health Organization instrument assessing four domains of quality of life across 26 items.

References

1. Factors associated with poorer quality of life in people living with HIV in southwestern France in 2018–2020 (ANRS CO3 AQUIVIH-NA cohort: QuAliV study). Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Health related quality of life of HIV-positive women on ART follow-up in north Shewa zone public hospitals, central Ethiopia: Evidence from a cross-sectional study. Heliyon (2023).
3. State of mental health, sleep status, and the interaction with health-related quality of life in HIV-infected Chinese patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health (2024).
4. Consensus statement on the role of health systems in advancing the long-term well-being of people living with HIV. Nature Communications (2021).