Relationship between quality of life, social support and disease-related factors in HIV-infected persons in Venezuela

This study examines the relationships among health-related quality of life (HRQL), social support, sociodemographic factors and disease-related factors in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) living in Venezuela. A sample of 118 HIV-infected persons living in Caracas, Venezuela, was surveyed using a written questionnaire that included a Spanish translation of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) developed for this study, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a symptom inventory. All three instruments showed good internal consistency reliability. Multiple regression analyses were used to model SF-36 sub-scale scores as a function of symptoms, social support, HIV-status and use of antiretroviral drugs. The models explained between 16 and 39% of the variance in the different HRQL domains. Controlling for other variables in the model, level of symptomatology was significantly associated with all HRQL domains except social functioning and role-emotional scores. Social support was significantly associated with all HRQL domains except physical functioning and bodily pain. The use of antiretroviral drugs was significantly associated with social functioning. The study indicates the importance of social support to the quality of life of HIV-infected individuals in this culture.