INSIGHTS INTO LIVING WITH HIV

A man smiling as another man kisses his cheek

Few international HIV studies capture the experiences of people living with HIV, including health-related quality of life, beyond viral suppression. The latest Positive Perspectives study from ViiV Healthcare is one of the largest, global, HIV patient-reported outcomes (PROs) studies to date and provides perspectives from a diverse group of people living with HIV across the world.

Why is the Positive Perspectives study important?

Building on the unique knowledge and insights gained from the initial Positive Perspectives survey undertaken by ViiV Healthcare in 2017, the study provides further insights into the challenges of living with HIV and continues to recognise the importance of listening to the voices of people living with HIV.

It investigates how people living with HIV rate their own health, how having HIV impacts their lives and affects their outlook for the future, as well as examining their interactions and relationships with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their experiences with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The in-depth insights gained from the study can help us address the remaining unmet treatment needs and challenges faced by people living with HIV and contribute towards improving health-related quality of life.

In alignment with the Denver Principles and to ensure involvement of people living with HIV, an advisory committee made up of 15 community leaders, HCPs and people living with HIV from the regions involved in the study, helped to guide the research.

Who was involved in the Positive Perspectives study?

2,389 people living with HIV aged 18-84 from 25 countries participated in the Positive Perspectives study:

What do data from the Positive Perspectives study show?

Some global results have been shared already at the International Workshop on HIV and Women and in the publication Preventing Chronic Disease.

Impact of polypharmacy on quality of life

While people living with HIV are now living longer, healthier lives, this also means that many are taking multiple medications (polypharmacy) for other health conditions.

The first set of published data from the Positive Perspectives study looks at the impact of polypharmacy on quality of life for people living with HIV. Click here to read more about how people living with HIV can plan for healthy ageing.

Women and HIV

Just over half (52%) of people living with HIV are women and girls and HIV and AIDS is now the leading cause of death globally for women aged 15-44.1

Results from the Positive Perspectives study2 show that:

  • Women living with HIV, overall, had significantly poorer health-related outcomes compared with men and reported less viral control and more treatment-related side effects
  • Women were uncomfortable discussing HIV-related intimacy concerns with HCPs
  • Despite desiring greater involvement in their care, women were less inclined to discuss issues related to their HIV care with their providers

Watch Marvelous Muchenje, HIV Community Worker, Positive Perspectives Study Co-Author and Manager of Community Relations & Communications for ViiV Healthcare, discuss these findings from the Positive Perspectives study and talk about how we can ensure there is effective communication between women living with HIV and HCPs.

Positive Perspectives at the International Workshop on HIV and Women

References:

  1. UNAIDS. Core Epidemiology Slides.. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_2017_core-epidemiology-slides_en.pdf. Last accessed January 2021.
  2. Okoli C, de los Rios P, Muchenje M, Young B. Treatment experiences, perceptions towards sexual intimacy and child-bearing, and empowered decision making in care among women living with HIV; Positive Perspectives; Presented at the 10th International Workshop on HIV & Women, Boston, MA, March 6-7, 2020.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the GSK Reporting Tool link https://gsk.public.reportum.com/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

If you are from outside the UK, you can report adverse events to GSK/ ViiV by selecting your region and market, here.