Health-related quality of life of HIV-infected patients taking different antiretroviral regimens at a tertiary healthcare facility in northern Nigeria

Purpose: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients taking different antiretroviral regimens.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to evaluate HRQoL of patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Data were collected using HIV/AIDS-Targeted Quality of Life instrument between May and November, 2015 from 872 adult outpatients who had been on their regimen for at least 6 months. Data were statistically analysed.Results: The overall HRQoL score of the patients was 59.40 ± 18.66. Among patients on the first-line regimens, those on TDF + FTC + EFZ (60.52 ± 19.17) and those on TDF + 3TC + EFZ (64.41 ± 18.04) reported the best HRQoL scores. The difference between the scores of patients on the two most utilised regimens; AZT + 3TC + NVP (58.14 ± 18.53) and TDF + 3TC + EFZ (64.41 ± 18.04) was significant (p < 0.05). Among patients on second-line regimens, those on TDF + FTC + LPVr (67.58 ± 14.80) reported the highest HRQoL score.Conclusion: Patients in this facility had a moderate HRQoL. TDF + 3TC + EFZ, TDF + FTC + EFZ and TDF + FTC + LPVr were the regimens with the best HRQoL outcomes. The use of these regimens should be encouraged for better patient well-being.Keywords: HIV, Health-related quality of life, Antiretroviral therapy, First-line antiretroviral regimen, Second-line antiretroviral regimen