Validation of the MOS-HIV as a measure of health-related quality of life in persons living with HIV and liver disease

Abstract

Background. Management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with potent antiretroviral medication has transformed HIV into a chronic condition and has shifted much of the burden of disease to co-morbid conditions such as liver disease (LD). LD alone has been shown to have a significant effect on one's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Clinical evidence suggests that the growing number of persons living with HIV+LD may have a poorer HRQOL than persons with HIV without LD. To date, the widely accepted instrument to assess HRQOL, Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), has not been evaluated for reliability and validity in a population of HIV-infected persons with LD. Methods. HRQOL was prospectively assessed using the MOS-HIV in a sample of 532 HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy (n=305 HIV and n=227 HIV+LD). In addition, participants completed standardized questionnaires of sociodemographics and co-morbid conditions. Results. The psychometric properties of the MOS-HIV were supported by testing reliability and construct, convergent, discriminative, and predictive validity. The MOS-HIV discriminated between those persons living with HIV with and without LD on the basis of the physical function subscale scores (p=0.018). Conclusion. This study found the MOS-HIV valid and reliable instrument in persons with HIV+LD.

Keywords:

• health-related quality of life
• HIV
• liver disease
• MOS-HIV
• clinical research

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all of the individuals living with HIV and liver disease that participated in the parent study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) (R01 NR04749, Erlen) and the NINR-funded Center for Research in Chronic Disorders (P30 NR003924). The authors would also like to thank the nurses and research team members for all of their endless dedication. Further research support was granted to Dr. Henderson by the NINR Intramural Research Program and the NIH Clinical and Translational Fellowship (1TL1 RR024155), the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and Sigma Theta Tau International 2006 Research Award, and Dr. Corrine Barnes and the Dr. Rose Constantino endowed scholarships, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Funds for graduate studies. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the position of the NIH or the US Government.