Health-related quality of life in well-treated people with HIV and comparators over an 8-year period: a longitudinal analysis from the prospective AGEhIV cohort study

Abstract Background People with HIV experience more comorbidities, which can reduce health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We compared HRQoL and depressive symptoms over 8 years in people with HIV and HIV-negative comparators in the AGEhIV study. Methods We assessed HRQoL biennially from 2010–2020 using SF-36 Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Scores and measured depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Participants with ≥1 SF-36 were included; people with HIV not on ART or with HIV-1 RNA >200 copies/mL at inclusion were excluded. Mean PCS and MCS were compared between groups using mixed-effects linear regression adjusted for sociodemographics, lifestyle, and comorbidity count, with an HIV status × visit interaction. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥16) were analyzed using mixed-effects logistic regression. Results We included 522 people with HIV and 532 comparators, predominantly Dutch MSM, with median ages of 52.9 and 52.1 years, respectively. Over a median 8.0-year follow-up, mean PCS and MCS scores were lower in people with HIV by -1.69 (95% CI -2.28 to -1.10) and -1.25 (95% CI -1.97 to -0.53). Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were more frequent in people with HIV (aOR 2.74; 95% CI 1.40–5.37). Changes in PCS, MCS, and CES-D over time did not differ between groups. Conclusions Well-treated, middle-aged people with HIV may retain HRQoL comparable to individuals without HIV, with differences that, although statistically significant, might be of unclear clinical relevance due to small effect sizes. Changes in HRQoL and depressive symptoms over time do not differ between groups.