ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE

To analyze whether socioeconomic and clinical aspects and the aspects of healthy life habits are associated with the quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional exploratory quantitative research, with 227 persons living with HIV/AIDS, treated at two hospitals of reference between April 2012 and June 2014. We used structured questionnaires to assess socioeconomic aspects (gender, age, education level, marital status, race, socioeconomic status, dependents on family income, employment relationship), clinical parameters (time of disease diagnosis, use and time of medication, CD4 T-cell count, and viral load), and practice of physical exercise. To assess quality of life, we used the Quality of Life questionnaire (HAT-QoL). For characterization of the socioeconomic and clinical data and domains of quality of life, we conducted a descriptive analysis (simple frequency, averages, and standard deviations). We applied linear regression, following a hierarchical model for each domain of quality of life.

RESULTS

The domains that presented lower averages for quality of life were financial concern, concern with confidentiality, general function, and satisfaction with life. We found associations with the variables of socioeconomic status and physical exercise, therapy, and physical exercise for the last two domains, consecutively.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS shows losses, especially in the financial and confidentiality areas, followed by general function of the body and satisfaction with life, in which socioeconomic and clinical aspects and healthy living habits, such as the practice of physical exercise, are determining factors for this reality.

HIV Long-Term Survivors; Socioeconomic Factors; Health Behavior; Quality of Life

INTRODUCTION

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), initially considered an acute and fatal disease, currently has a profile of chronic disease¹1. Global report: UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2013 [cited 2017 Feb 21]. Available from: http://files.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/epidemiology/2013/gr2013/UNAIDS_Global_Report_2013_en.pdf
http://files.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/... . This modification is due to the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which has allowed an increase in the quality of the treatment of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), improving the quality of life (QOL) and increasing life expectancy²2. Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de DST, Aids e Hepatites Virais. Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas para manejo da infecção pelo HIV em adultos. Brasília (DF); 2013 [cited 2017 Feb 21]. Available from: http://www.aids.gov.br/sites/default/files/anexos/publicacao/2013/55308/protocolofinal_31_7_2015_pdf_31327.pdf
http://www.aids.gov.br/sites/default/fil... .

The QOL covers multifactorial characteristics, reflecting individual and collective experience, knowledge, and values in the historical, cultural and social time lived³3. Oliveira Filho JS, Silva PE, Freitas FFQ, Soares JP, Costa MAG, Silva ACO. Qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/Aids. Rev Baiana Enferm. 2014;28(1):61-8. https://doi.org/10.18471/rbe.v28i1.9088
https://doi.org/10.18471/rbe.v28i1.9088... . In its comprehensive concept, QOL is defined as an individual perception about the position in life, in the context of culture and value systems in relation to goals, expectations, and concerns⁴4. WHOQOL Group. The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41(10):1403-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00112-K
https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)001... . In this perspective, we can verify the incorporation of aspects related to the physical and psychological health, the level of independence, and the social relationship within the spectrum of QOL⁴4. WHOQOL Group. The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41(10):1403-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00112-K
https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)001... .

Given these characteristics, the investigation on the QOL of PLWHA becomes essential, especially because of the development of the infection, the need for drug treatment, increased survival, and life with the stigmatizing disease. All these aspects must be observed with the socio-economic characteristics and habits of life, in order to identify negative factors that contribute to biopsychosocial problems³3. Oliveira Filho JS, Silva PE, Freitas FFQ, Soares JP, Costa MAG, Silva ACO. Qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/Aids. Rev Baiana Enferm. 2014;28(1):61-8. https://doi.org/10.18471/rbe.v28i1.9088
https://doi.org/10.18471/rbe.v28i1.9088... ^,55. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... ^,66. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... .

Given this context, this study aimed to analyze whether socioeconomic and clinical aspects and the aspects of healthy life habits are associated with the quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

This is an exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study⁷7. Thomas JR, Nelson JK, Silverman SJ. Métodos de pesquisa em atividade física. 6.ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2012., with persons living with HIV/AIDS treated at two hospital of reference in infectious diseases of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: Hospital Giselda Trigueiro, in the municipality of Natal, and Hospital Rafael Fernandes, in the municipality of Mossoró, carried out between April 2012 and June 2014. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of the Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (Opinion 648,909).

The sample was non-probabilistic and consecutive; among the 275 patients approached and invited to participate in the research by the evaluators after medical consultation, 46 refused because of unavailability of time or lack of interest in participating, and two did not complete the interview. Thus, 227 persons living with HIV of both genders participated in this study.

Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of infection of HIV/AIDS, being in clinical follow-up in the Specialized Care Service in HIV/AIDS, and being aged 18 years or more, of both genders. We excluded individuals who had any type of medical or cognitive condition that would prevent them from understanding the research procedures (persons with severe hearing impairment, under the effect of psychoactive substance, or limitations in the ability to respond unaccompanied to the questionnaire, as in the case of prisoners with police escort or hospitalized).

The data were collected from personal interviews in a reserved location. The research tools were applied by two previously trained evaluators, using structured questionnaires, which assessed the socioeconomic and demographic aspects (gender, age, education, marital status, race, socioeconomic status, dependents on family income, employment relationship, and practice or not of physical exercise as a healthy habit).

Regarding clinical parameters, we inquired about the time of disease diagnosis and the use and time of medication. Data on clinical stage of infection, CD4 T-cell count, and viral load were obtained from the most recent exam record in the chart.

To assess the QOL, we used the questionnaire Quality of Life (HAT-QoL), proposed by Holmes and Shea⁸8. Holmes WC, Shea JA. Two approaches to measuring quality of life in the HIV/AIDS population: HAT-QoL and MOS-HIV. Qual Life Res. 1999 [cited 2017 Feb 21];8(6):515-27. Available from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4037485
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4037485... , validated for PLWHA in Brazil⁹9. Soárez PC, Castelo A, Abrão P, Holmes WC, Ciconelli RM. Tradução e validação de um questionário de avaliação de qualidade de vida em AIDS no Brasil. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2009;25(1):69-76. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892009000100011
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1020-4989200900... . The HAT-QoL has 34 questions, distributed in nine domains: general function, satisfaction with life, health concern, financial concerns, concerns about medication, acceptance of HIV, concerns about confidentiality, confidence in the professional, and sexual function.

To answer the questions, subjects were told to think about their QOL in the last four weeks. The answers of the instrument have a five-point Likert scale: all the time, most of the time, part of the time, little time, never. In each domain, zero is the lowest score and 100 is the best possible score. Thus, the higher the score, the lower the impact of HIV infection is in the QOL of individuals.

Statistical Analysis

We calculated the frequencies, averages, and standard deviations of the socioeconomic, clinical, and score data of the domains of quality of life. Subsequently, we selected the variables to be included in multiple regression models in order to eliminate the variables that showed no association with each domain of QOL from the model. In this analysis, Student’s t-test was used to compare the average scores for each domain between the levels of each variable, and the variables that had a value of p < 0.10 were selected for inclusion in the regression models.

For the multivariate analysis, multiple linear regressions were used. In each regression, the dependent variable was one of the domains of QOL and the independent variables were all the variables selected in the respective bivariate analysis. In each model developed, the independent variables that showed no significant association (p < 0.05) with the dependent variable were eliminated in a step-by-step process. The results are presented as adjusted point estimates of the difference in the score of each domain between the levels of each independent variable and their 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Of the 227 individuals, 131 were men and 96 were women, and average age of 40.3 (SD = 11.5) years. The characteristics of the population of the study are presented in Table 1, in which we can see that the most affected domains of QOL were financial concerns, concerns about confidentiality, general function, and satisfaction with life.

The multiple linear regression model can be seen in Tables 2, 3, and 4. Associations were especially present between the variable “no practice of physical exercise” and the domains of general function, satisfaction with life, health concerns, acceptance of HIV, financial concerns, and concerns about medication. Among the socioeconomic variables, associations between age and the domains of health concerns, concerns about medication, and acceptance of HIV predominated.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we analyzed the QOL and association between socioeconomic and clinical aspects and healthy living habits in PLWHA. We saw that the most affected domains of QOL were financial concerns, concerns about confidentiality, general function, and satisfaction with life, which were associated, respectively, with the variables: socioeconomic status and physical exercise, therapy, and only physical exercise for the last two domains (general function and satisfaction with life).

The negative results for financial concerns and concerns about confidentiality corroborate with studies that have used the HAT-QoL and identified negative behavior in these domains⁵5. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... ^,66. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... ^,1010. Galvão MTG, Cerqueira ATAR, Marcondes-Machado J. Avaliação da qualidade de vida de mulheres com HIV/AIDS através do HAT-QoL. Cad Saude Publica. 2004;20(2):430-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2004000200010
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X200400... . Regarding the association between socioeconomic status and financial concern, there is enough consistency, as the group had the highest number of persons classified as of low income, agreeing with Passos and Souza¹¹11. Passos SMK, Souza LDM. An evaluation of quality of life and its determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS from Southern Brazil. Cad Saude Publica. 2015;31(4):800-14. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00000514
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0000051... who have assessed 625 PLWHA and found worse QOL for individuals of lower socioeconomic class (p < 0.001). The rationale for such a relationship would be the fact that low-income persons present more difficulties regarding survival (housing, food, and health-related services). These data corroborate with other studies that have identified lower scores in these domains of QOL and low income in the groups⁵5. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... ^,1212. Gakhar H, Kamali A, Holodniy M. Health-related quality of life assessment after antiretroviral therapy: a review of the literature. Drugs. 2013;73(7):651-72. https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978
https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978... ^,1313. Root R, Whiteside A. A qualitative study of community home-based care and antiretroviral adherence in Swaziland. J Int AIDS Soc. 2013;16:17978. https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978
https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978... .

The domain of concern with confidentiality was associated with only the variable of therapy, corresponding to 86.8% of the persons taking antiretroviral drugs. This result is not in agreement with the study of Passos and Souza, who have identified worse QOL associated with “not taking antiretroviral drugs”¹¹11. Passos SMK, Souza LDM. An evaluation of quality of life and its determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS from Southern Brazil. Cad Saude Publica. 2015;31(4):800-14. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00000514
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0000051... . However, we can infer from the result, as the literature also states that the use of antiretroviral drugs increase the concerns with confidentiality by fear of revealing the medical condition to family, friends, and co-workers. Despite the information about the disease, prejudice is present and compromises the QOL of PLWHA¹⁴14. Carvalho CML, Galvão MTG. Enfrentamento da AIDS entre mulheres infectadas em Fortaleza-CE. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2008;42(1):90-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342008000100012
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-6234200800... , making them adopt a “double life”, also affecting the demand for health care⁵5. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... ^,1212. Gakhar H, Kamali A, Holodniy M. Health-related quality of life assessment after antiretroviral therapy: a review of the literature. Drugs. 2013;73(7):651-72. https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978
https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978... ^,1313. Root R, Whiteside A. A qualitative study of community home-based care and antiretroviral adherence in Swaziland. J Int AIDS Soc. 2013;16:17978. https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978
https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.1.17978... ^,1515. Romancini JLH, Guariglia D, Nardo Jr N, Herold P, Pimentel GGA, Pupulin ART. Níveis de atividade física e alterações metabólicas em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2012;18(6):356-60. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922012000600001
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-8692201200...

16. Gupta SK, Shrivastava AK, Gupta P, Sharma P, Sarawagi R. A study on the Self-Reported Quality of Life of HIV-Positive Slum-Dwellers in Mumbai, India. J Community Med Health Educ. 2012;2:172. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0711.1000172
https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0711.100017... ^-1717. Reis RK, Santos CB, Dantas RAS, Gir E. Qualidade de vida, aspectos sociodemográficos e de sexualidade de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2011;20(3):565-75. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-07072011000300019
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-0707201100... .

General function and satisfaction with life were associated with the variable of physical exercise and were the subsequent domains that presented the lowest averages. The justification for this is due to the negative behavior found by not practicing physical exercise as a healthy habit. There are reports in the literature on the association between QOL of persons who exercise, exactly because of the changes in lifestyle, which allow the improvement of body composition, metabolism efficiency, joint mobility, posture, cognitive functions, perception of self-image, and socialization, thus improving the overall function and satisfaction with life¹⁸18. Santos ECM, França Junior I, Lopes F. Quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in São Paulo, Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2007;41 Suppl 2:64-71. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102007000900011
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910200700... ^,1919. Seidl EMF, Zannon CMLC, Tróccoli BT. Pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS: enfrentamento, suporte social e qualidade de vida. Psicol Reflex Crít. 2005;18(2):188-95. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722005000200006
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-7972200500... .

The domains of health concerns, acceptance of HIV, concerns about medication, and sexual function presented positive averages for QOL.

The domain of health concerns was associated with age, physical exercise, and CD4 T-cell. For the first result, we observed that the association presented positive behavior of QOL with advancing age in this study. This result differs from that found by Soares et al.⁵5. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... , who have identified that younger PLWHA showed better QOL. The association with physical exercise is also in disagreement with the literature, as the sample consisted of a higher proportion of persons who do not practice physical exercise. A previous study⁶6. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... has shown the reverse, as the persons who were classified as inadequately active showed losses for QOL. However, the association of the domain of health concern with CD4 T-cell can justify the positive behavior of QOL, as this parameter is relevant for the health condition of PLWHA¹⁰10. Galvão MTG, Cerqueira ATAR, Marcondes-Machado J. Avaliação da qualidade de vida de mulheres com HIV/AIDS através do HAT-QoL. Cad Saude Publica. 2004;20(2):430-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2004000200010
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X200400... . In our study, most persons showed CD4 T-cell count above 350 cells/mm³, which reassures the PLWHA, as this value reduces the concerns about the prognosis of death¹⁰10. Galvão MTG, Cerqueira ATAR, Marcondes-Machado J. Avaliação da qualidade de vida de mulheres com HIV/AIDS através do HAT-QoL. Cad Saude Publica. 2004;20(2):430-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2004000200010
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X200400... .

In the analysis of the domain of acceptance of HIV, we observed association with “being over 37 years” and “no practice of physical exercise”. The association with age can arise from the fact that older persons are more mature and thus better accept their health condition⁹9. Soárez PC, Castelo A, Abrão P, Holmes WC, Ciconelli RM. Tradução e validação de um questionário de avaliação de qualidade de vida em AIDS no Brasil. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2009;25(1):69-76. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892009000100011
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1020-4989200900... . As for exercise, we found disagreement with the literature, as PLWHA classified as physically active presented the best scores for QOL⁶6. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... , and the variable “no practice of physical exercise”, in our sample, is not the predominant factor for the positive behavior of the QOL.

The domain of concerns about medication was positive for QOL and was associated with gender (male predominance), age (> 37 years), physical exercise (no practice) and CD4 T-cell (> 350 cells/mm³). These data agree with the study of Passos and Souza, who have identified worse QOL associated with female and age (< 47 years)¹¹11. Passos SMK, Souza LDM. An evaluation of quality of life and its determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS from Southern Brazil. Cad Saude Publica. 2015;31(4):800-14. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00000514
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0000051... , suggesting that gender, age, and clinical parameters determine the QOL of PLWHA. Regarding the association with physical exercise, another study has observed contrary behavior, in which the domain of concern about medication was less compromised in PLWHA who practiced physical exercise. Thus, we believe that the results found show a non-causal relationship, as the literature indicates that PLWHA who have a healthy lifestyle, as practitioners of physical exercise, are those who care more about their health and have better adherence to antiretroviral drugs, therefore not compromising the QOL in this domain⁶6. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... .

Finally, among the analysis of QOL, the domain of sexual function presented one of the best averages. High score or better QOL in this aspect is due to the associations found with males, leading us to two hypotheses: either the men actually have a healthy sex life, or, because of cultural issues or even shame, men deny the impairment of their sexual life⁶6. Santos L, Olkoski M, Silva D, Ohara D, Sonigo J, Rombaldi A. Nível de atividade física, indicadores clínicos e qualidade de vida de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saude. 2015;19(6):711. https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P711
https://doi.org/10.12820/RBAFS.V.19N6P71... . As for the association with the higher values in CD4 T-cell count, the better the immunological parameters, the lower is the risk of HIV transmission. The high CD4 T-cell count also allows the individuals to live better with the disease and rebuild their life projects and affective-sexual bonds²⁰20. Schaurich D, Coelho DF, Motta MGC. A cronicidade no processo saúde-doença: repensando a epidemia da AIDS após os anti-retrovirais. Rev Enferm UERJ. 2006 [cited 2017 Feb 21];14(3):455-62. Avaialable from: http://www.facenf.uerj.br/v14n3/v14n3a19.pdf
http://www.facenf.uerj.br/v14n3/v14n3a19... ^,2121. World Health Organization. Programmatic update: antiretroviral treatment as prevention (TASP) of HIV and TB: executive summary. Geneva: WHO; 2012 [cited 2017 Feb 21]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70904/1/WHO_HIV_2012.12_eng.pdf
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665... . However, there is controversy regarding the sexual function of PLWHA, as losses are also reported, given that the infection promotes changes that make the subject either avoid their affective relationships⁵5. Soares GB, Garbin CAS, Rovida TAS, Garbin AJI. Qualidade de vida de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS assistidas no serviço especializado em Vitória (ES), Brasil. Cienc Saude Coletiva. 2015;20(4):1075-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.00522014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204... .

The main limitation of the study arises from the impossibility of causal inferences, as it is a cross-sectional study. However, the study shows many determinants for the QOL of PLWHA, emphasizing that, when socioeconomic and clinical factors and life habits are not adequate, losses in quality of life can be emphasized.

We conclude that the quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS presents losses, mainly in the financial and confidentiality areas, followed by general function of the body and satisfaction with life. Additionally, the domains of general function, satisfaction with life, health concerns, acceptance of HIV, financial concerns, and concerns about medication are associated with no exercise, showing that this factor, as well as some socioeconomic factors, are determinants for the QOL of PLWHA.

From the premise that both the practice of physical exercise and socioeconomic factors are determinant for the quality of life of the population studied, we suggest the creation of public policies focused on both aspects, such as the encouragement of physical exercise and good nutrition. These guidelines would support the traditional treatment, providing the complete follow-up of PLWHA, from the strengthening of the multidisciplinary team. Such assistance would address the clinical, psychological, physical, and social aspects, which directly reflect on the QOL of the persons living with HIV/AIDS.

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