4118.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Board 6

Abstract #28600

Impact of Nutrition Intervention for Patients with AIDS-related Wasting on Health-Related Quality of Life

Wendy L. Johnson-Taylor, PhD, Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Jenkins Hall, Room 343, Baltimore, MD 21251, 443-885-4015, wjohnsonta@home.com, Andrea K. Biddle, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, Janice M. Dodds, Nutrition, University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 4101 McGavran Greenberg Building, CB#7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, Pamela S. Haines, DrPH, RD, School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, Charles M. van der Horst, MD, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 547 Burnett-Womack Building CB#7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, and Boyd Switzer, PhD, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599.

The Impact of Nutrition Intervention for

Patients with AIDS-Related Wasting on Health-Related Quality Of Life

Objectives: To determine the impact of nutrition intervention on the health-related quality

of life of patients with mild AIDS-related wasting.

Methods: Thirty-seven mildly wasted patients were randomized to receive or not receive nutrition intervention for a 4-month period. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured at baseline and at month 4 using the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 and the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV. Detailed notes were maintained on patients’ reactions to the instruments. Differences in scores between and within the groups were analyzed using ANOVA and paired t-test. ANOVA was also used to compare baseline scores of our patients on the Medical Outcome Study-HIV and other AIDS patients recorded in the literature..

Outcome Measures: Main outcome variables tested were changes in HRQoL scores.

Results: HRQoL scores did not differ significantly within or between the groups for either instrument. Comparisons of our patients’ Medical Outcomes Study-HIV scores and those published in the literature revealed that our patients had significantly higher scores in all domains except overall health, role emotional and cognitive function. Patient comments did not support instrument findings.

Conclusions: Nutrition Intervention did not significantly alter the HRQoL of patients in this study. In addition our patients scores were significantly higher than those published in the literature despite similar disease states. However, our patients differed in ethnicity. Additional study is recommended with a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures. Spirituality should also be included as domain.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the sessions the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1) Assess the effectiveness of current measures of health-related quality of life for minorities 2) Recognize the impact of culture and ethnicity on health-related quality of life 3)Discuss how the results of this study can affect disease management

Keywords: Nutrition, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Sundown Vitamins
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA