BACKGROUND: As the HIV/AIDS epidemic enters its third decade, a dramatic increase in life expectancy has given rise to a new population of patients characterized by chronic illness. This increase has been attributed to antiretroviral drugs, prophylaxis therapies, and protease inhibitors. However, traditional clinical indices do not give clinicians sufficient insight into their patients’ quality of life. METHODS: The MOS-HIV Health Survey, a health related quality of life assessment, was administered to residents of Leeway, an AIDS-related skilled nursing facility in New Haven, CT (n=43). Residents were assessed at baseline (on admission), and one, two and six months post baseline. Comparison MOS-HIV Health Survey data was obtained from individuals at other stages of HIV disease from the published literature. RESULTS: The MOS-HIV was able to distinguish Leeway’s population of chronically ill people with end-stage AIDS from those at other stages of HIV disease. The Leeway population’s scores were significantly lower than the asymptomatic patients for all of the scales except for mental health and from patients at all other stages in the areas of physical and role function. However, within the Leeway sample, traditional demographic and clinical variables were not effective in explaining individual patient scores. CONCLUSIONS: Chronically ill individuals with AIDS represent a unique and rapidly growing population requiring a variety of long-term care services. Future research should be directed towards identifying important covariates and sub-populations within this emerging group so that clinicians and facilities may better serve these individuals as AIDS is further transformed into a chronic disease.
Learning Objectives: “At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize the existence of a sub-population of chronically ill individuals with AIDS.” 2. Discuss possible health related quality of life (HrQol) issues specific to this group.” 3. Identify possible interventions to improve perceptions of health and well-being among members of this group.”
Keywords: Quality of Life, Long-Term Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Leeway, Inc
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.