The Rotterdam umc examined HIV patients in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom who are undergoing treatment or check-ups at the HIV outpatient clinic. Through questionnaires, their quality of life was mapped in five domains: freedom of movement, self-care, daily household, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression.
Better score on self-care
In the first four domains, patients with HIV appear to experience a similar quality of life as the general population. “In the domain of self-care, people with HIV even score slightly better,” says Popping. “They are seen in the outpatient clinic of internist-infectiologists. Blood is drawn regularly, and their blood pressure is measured,” explains the researcher. This group of patients is encouraged to stop smoking and to use medicines faithfully.
over 60s
Anxiety and depression are more common among patients with HIV, the questionnaires show. Especially people over 60 are more likely to suffer from it. Almost twice as often as people over 60 without HIV. Popping does not know where these feelings come from, but suspects that it is a broad combination of factors: issues of relationships and sexuality, loneliness and stigmatisation. “But HIV is also more common in groups where mental health problems are common: in the LGTB population, among migrants, drug users and inmates.” Popping therefore argues in favor of reducing anxiety and depression when treating HIV patients.
By: National Care Guide
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