Poor health-related quality of life in people living with HIV co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France (the COVIDHIV study)

Abstract

Abstract Background: Among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), comorbid conditions, including COVID-19, could favor impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQL). This study aimed to assess HRQL and its correlates among PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 collected at inclusion in the COVIDHIV cohort study. HRQL was measured using the four dimensions of PROQOL-HIV scale: Physical Health Symptom (PHS), Mental and Cognitive (MC), Social Relationship (SR), Treatment Impact (TI). Factors associated with each dimension were identified using linear regression. Findings: Of the 371 participants included in this study, 64.7% were male, their mean age (SD) was 52(±12) years. The mean (SD) scores of the HRQL dimensions were 76.7(±21.1) for PHS, 79.2(±23.6) for SR, 67.3(±27.4) for MC and 83.9(±16.5) for TI. Better PHS score was associated with being professionally active and good self-perceived knowledge about COVID-19. Having acquired HIV by blood transfusion, stage C of CDC HIV-classification, having received discharge instructions in hospital, and number of self-reported symptoms were associated with worse score in PHS dimension. Living in a couple was associated with better SR score. Having received instructions at hospital discharge, being at stage C of CDC HIV-classification, having acquired HIV by drug injection, number of self-reported symptoms, and self-perceived vulnerable to COVID-19 were associated with worse score in SR dimension. Better score in the MC dimension was associated with being professionally active, and being born in metropolitan France, while being female, having detectable HIV viral-load, having received instructions at hospital discharge, self-perceived vulnerable to COVID-19, smoking, and number of self-reported symptoms were associated with worse score in MC dimension. Being born in metropolitan France, having acquired HIV in homosexual or bisexual relationships were associated with better score in TI dimension. Having detectable HIV viral-load, psychiatric disorders, and number of self-reported symptoms were associated with worse score in TI dimension. Conclusion: Among PLWHIV co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, the scores of HRQL were impaired, particularly in the MC dimension. The knowledge of associated factors can help clinicians for better care of this population.