Improved quality of life with immediate versus deferred initiation of antiretroviral therapy in early asymptomatic HIV infection.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine if immediate compared to deferred initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in healthy persons living with HIV had a more favorable impact on health-related quality of life (QOL), or self-assessed physical, mental, and overall health status.

Design

QOL was measured in the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Therapy study, which randomized healthy ART-naive persons living with HIV with CD4 cell counts above 500 cells/μl from 35 countries to immediate versus deferred ART.

Methods

At baseline, months 4 and 12, then annually, participants completed a visual analog scale (VAS) for 'perceived current health' and the Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey version 2 from which the following were computed: general health perception; physical component summary

SUBMITTER: Lifson AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5373969 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature