Physical condition and activity of daily living among HIV patients infected through blood products in Japan

Objective: To examine the present status and trends in physical condition and activity of daily living (ADL) among patients infected HIV by blood products in Japan. Methods: Data from a survey of 605 HIV patients infected through blood products were available quarterly between April 1997 and March 2000. Physical condition (summary index of 13 symptoms) and ADL in the first quarter of 2000 were assessed by comparing proportions of patients in good physical condition and having good ADL according to the level of CD4 counts and the use of antiretroviral treatments. Trends in those proportions during the study period were investigated, and these trends were also assessed by the changes in CD4 counts and antiretroviral treatments. Results and Conclusions: The proportion of patients in good physical condition was 70.6% and having good ADL was 65.7% in the first quarter of 2000, which was associated with the CD4 counts and antiretroviral therapy. The proportion of patients in good physical condition decreased from 79.2% to 66.2%, and ADL also decreased from 72.1% to 61.3% during the study period. These declines were presumably associated with the changes in CD4 counts and antiretroviral treatments.