Correlates of health-related quality of life among older adults living with HIV in northern Nigeria

The physical, psychosocial, and environmental well-being of people living with HIV, particularly older adults, is receiving greater attention as more individuals with HIV reach older ages. This study explored health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its associated factors among HIV-positive adults aged 50 years and older attending a tertiary facility in northern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 222 participants recruited using systematic random sampling. The WHOQOL-HIV BREF instrument was used to assess HRQOL alongside clinical and sociodemographic data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. Overall, 59% of participants reported good HRQOL, with the environmental domain showing the highest scores, while the physical and social domains had the lowest scores. Chronic comorbidities were observed in 74.8% of participants. Multivariate logistic regression identified religion, family support, asymptomatic status, and the absence of dyspepsia or visual impairment as factors associated with good HRQOL. In summary, among older adults living with HIV in northern Nigeria, just over half reported good HRQOL. HRQOL was independently associated with comorbidity status, symptom burden, and family support. Achieving the "fourth 90" will require HIV care that extends beyond viral suppression to address comorbid conditions and strengthen social support systems.