OBJECTIVETo assess the quality of life of people living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA) and to identify influencing factors.

METHODSDuring September to December 2010, by a convenience sampling, a questionnaire survey was undertaken in 310 PLWHA living in Beijing, which included the general questionnaires, SF-36 for assessing quality of life and Berger-HIV stigma scale. T test and multivariable linear regression model were used to analyze the results.

RESULTSFor the subjects investigated, the age was (32.87±8.76) years old. Homosexual behavior was the main dissemination (84.52%, 262/310). The results of SF-36 questionnaire were: the summary score 66.75±15.70; physical function 93.00±9.49, role physical 66.53±40.26, bodily pain 73.88±22.63, general health 50.06±22.75, vitality 61.11±19.67, social function 69.50±24.24, role emotional 59.68±42.38, mental health 60.63±19.81. Except physical functioning, the scores of every scale were lower than general persons (P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the stronger stigma, the lower the summary score (standardized coefficients (β')=-0.38), role physical (β'=-0.21), bodily pain (β'=-0.13), general health (β'=-0.33), vitality (β'=-0.31), social function (β'=-0.34), role emotional (β'=-0.31), mental health (β'=-0.47) (all P values<0.05). The higher expend on treating HIV, the lower the summary score (β'=-0.17), physical function (β'=-0.28), role physical (β'=-0.15), bodily pain (β'=-0.19), general health (β'=-0.15), social function (β'=-0.11), role emotional (β'=-0.16) (all P values<0.05). Who having work got higher score in the summary score (β'=0.13), physical function (β'=0.13), role physical (β'=0.12), bodily pain (β'=0.12), vitality (β'=0.13), social function (β'=0.12), role emotional (β'=0.12) than others (all P values<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe quality of PLWHA's life was low. High stigma feeling, high expend on treating HIV, having a job were the main influencing factors of quality of life in PLWHA.