title: Quality of life of people with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy in Cuba: a cross-sectional study of the national population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the quality of life (QOL) of Cubans with HIV/AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study including administration of the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey Questionnaire to a representative sample of the 1592 Cubans receiving ART in 2004. For univariate analyses, we compared mean HIV scale scores. We used logistic regression models to estimate the association between role function and year of diagnosis, between pain and sex, and between health transition and region of diagnosis, with adjustment for demographics, ART regimen, and clinical status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 354 participants (73 women, 281 men). Scores for all functional activities showed means higher than 80 out of 100. Pain interfered more in women than in men (73.2 vs 81.9; P = .01). When HIV diagnosis occurred after 2001, the probability of experiencing difficulties performing work (odds ratio [OR] = 4.42; 95% CI = 1.83, 10.73) and pain (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.01, 2.88) increased compared with earlier diagnosis. People treated with indinavir showed a greater perception of general health (58.9 vs 52.4; P = .045) and greater health improvement (78.6 vs 67.8; P = .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Cubans receiving ART are maintaining a high QOL, we observed significant differences by sex and time of diagnosis. QOL assessment can serve as a health outcome and may allow identification of QOL reductions potentially related to ART side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aragonés-López
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ávila
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Smith Fawzi
authors.forename: Arachu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents