Beyond biomarkers and towards functional outcomes for adult persons living with HIV. A cross sectional survey in Blantyre Urban, Malawi.

Abstract

Introduction Despite improvements in survival, reports indicate that people living with HIV are experiencing a range of physical, cognitive, mental and social health-related challenges associated with HIV, comorbidities and aging recently termed ‘disability’. Among adult persons living with HIV in Malawi, the prevalence of disability and associated risk factors are not known. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of impairments, activity limitations and associated risk factors among adults living with HIV in Blantyre urban, Malawi. Methods We conducted a quantitative cross sectional study among adult persons living with HIV in Blantyre urban from March to August 2018. Participants were recruited consecutively from 5 health centers. We used the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for data collection. Written informed consent was sourced from study participants, permission was granted at each study site and the study received ethics approval from the College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (COMREC). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages and continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviation. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess association between presence of disability and selected factors. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results Of the 277 participants enrolled in the study, 225 (81%) were female and 52 (19%) were male. The mean age of participants was 37 years ( std. dev 9.5 ). Impairments in mental functions were the most prevalent affecting 118 (43%) study participants. Energy and drive (18%), memory (14%) and sleep (13%) were the most affected mental functions. Impairments in the mental functions, genital urinary, reproductive, digestive, metabolic and endocrine systems were associated with higher odds of disability among the participants. Conclusions Our results indicate a high prevalence of impairments among persons living with HIV. Clinicians and rehabilitation personnel need to be proactive in identifying and managing impairments to promote health among HIV patients.