Relationship between CD4 count and quality of life over time among HIV patients in Uganda: A cohort study

D.M. Mwesigire, F. Martin, J. Seeley, A. Katamba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)
41 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Immunological markers (CD4 count) are used in developing countries to decide on initiation of antiretroviral therapy and monitor HIV/AIDS disease progression. HIV is an incurable chronic illness, making quality of life paramount. The direct relationship between quality of life and CD4 count is unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between change in CD4 count and quality of life measures in a Ugandan cohort of people living with HIV.

Methods
We prospectively assessed quality of life among 1274 HIV patients attending an HIV clinic within a national referral hospital over a period of 6 months. Quality of life was measured using an objective measure, the Medical Outcomes Study HIV health survey summarized as Physical Health Score and Mental Health Score and a subjective measure, the Global Person Generated Index. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data. The primary predictor variable was change in CD4 count, and the outcome was quality of life scores. We controlled for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical factors and behavioral factors. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted to assess patient perception of quality of life and factors influencing quality of life.

Results
Of the 1274 patients enrolled 1159 had CD4 count at baseline and six months and 586 (51 %) received antiretroviral therapy. There was no association found between change in CD4 count and quality of life scores at univariate and multivariate analysis among the study participants whether on or not on antiretroviral therapy. Participants perceived quality of life as happiness and well-being, influenced by economic status, psychosocial factors, and health status.

Conclusions
Clinicians and policy makers cannot rely on change in immunological markers to predict quality of life in this era of initiating antiretroviral therapy among relatively healthy patients. In addition to monitoring immunological markers, socioeconomic and psychosocial factors should be underscored in management of HIV patients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number144
Number of pages14
JournalHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© 2015 Mwesigire et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Keywords

  • Immunological Marker
  • Probable Depression
  • Physical Health Score
  • Electronic Drug Monitoring
  • Mulago National Referral Hospital

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Relationship between CD4 count and quality of life over time among HIV patients in Uganda: A cohort study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this