Assessment of quality of life in visceral leishmaniasis patients coinfected with HIV: a comparative study in Bihar, India.

Abstract

Background: This study was aimed to evaluates the quality of life using WHOQOL-BREF in VL patients co-infected with HIV in Bihar, India.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 240 participants: 60 HIV-VL co-infected, 60 HIV, 60 VL and 60 healthy individuals. Socio-demographic data and QOL assessments used the Hindi WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The data were compared using the chi-square test, One-Way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc Test. Generalised linear regression was performed for analyses of predictors of QOL, as well as the socio-economic status was determined by using the Modified Kuppuswamy socio-economic Scale 2022.

Results: HIV-VL co-infected patients reported significantly lower QOL scores across all domains (physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental) compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Notably, psychological (12.17 ± 1.17), social relationship (5.90 ± 1.16), and environmental (14.10 ± 1.68) domains were severely impacted in HIV-VL coinfection in contrast to HIV (p < 0.05) and VL (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: HIV-VL co-infection profoundly affects quality of life, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions addressing psychological, social and environmental well-being. Future research should prioritize strategies improving QOL and assessing long-term treatment effects in HIV-VL co-infection.