Quality of life and health service use among HIV-infected patients with chronic diarrhea

Article Abstract:

Chronic diarrhea may have a significant psychological and financial impact on people with HIV infection. Quality of life, physical and social functioning and mental health were assessed in 110 AIDS patients who suffered from chronic diarrhea and 31 AIDS patients who did not. They were followed for nine to 12 months. Both groups were comparable in terms of physical function, mental health and energy at the start of the study. While the control group experienced no decline in functioning or global health, the patients with chronic diarrhea experienced a significant decline in all measures by the end of the study. They used 60% more health care resources than the control group and lost almost twice as many days of work on average. They visited outpatient clinics more often and had more lab tests, X-rays and diagnostic tests. They also used more medications. Ninety percent were disabled by the disorder, compared to 66% of the control group.

Psychological aspects, Economic aspects, Chronic diseases, Diarrhea

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Validity of the Karnofsky Performance Status in an HIV-infected sample

Article Abstract:

The Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of HIV-infected people may accurately indicate overall health status, but not as accurately reflect psychosocial condition or physical performance. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the healthiest, KPS indicates quality of life due to health, which is known as health status. KPS is determined by an examining health care worker. Researchers compared KPS with various self-administered health indicators for 160 HIV-positive people. The average KPS score was 82.0. KPS scores were most strongly associated with patient ratings of overall health status, indicators of energy and fatigue, and days off work. KPS correlated somewhat less closely with number of symptoms, total disability score, time off from work, Centers for Disease Control disease category, and a measure of social interaction. Finally, KPS scores correlated least with measures of psychological status and mental function.

Health aspects, Health status indicators

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Potential and actual workdays lost among patients with HIV

Article Abstract:

Previous estimates of the number of days lost from work by HIV-positive and AIDS patients may have been too high. The number of days taken off from work by 411 people with AIDS and 531 HIV-positive people without AIDS were compared with those taken off by 404 HIV-negative people in a comparison group. Information was collected from January 1990 until December 1992. AIDS patients reported taking 38.23 days off from work due to illness during the study period compared with 12.07 days off reported by the HIV-positive people and 2.5 reported by the comparison group. Those with AIDS reported from 29 to 32 more days lost than the comparison group over the past 90 days. Those in the HIV-positive group reported from 9 to 13 more days lost than the comparison group.

Employment, Work environment, AIDS patients, AIDS (Disease), AIDS (Disease) in the workplace

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