Beyond Viral Suppression: Quality of Life Among People Living With HIV in Czechia
Abstract
Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy has enabled many countries to approach the 95–95–95 HIV targets, but viral suppression alone does not ensure good health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In Czechia, systematic HRQoL data among people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been lacking. This study provides a national baseline for future monitoring within the National HIV/AIDS Program 2023–2027.
Methods: We conducted the first Czech nationwide cross-sectional study among adults living with HIV monitored in ten specialized HIV centers. Data were collected online and on paper between September and November 2025 in Czech and Ukrainian, reflecting that Ukrainians are now the largest migrant minority in Czechia. HRQoL was measured using PozQoL, alongside PHQ-9, GAD-7, and perceived social support. Analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability testing, group comparisons, and Spearman correlations.
Results: The sample included 594 PLHIV: 466 completed the Czech and 128 the Ukrainian questionnaire. PozQoL showed excellent internal consistency in the Czech sample (Cronbach’s α = 0.89). Mean HRQoL did not differ significantly between Czech and Ukrainian respondents (3.56 vs 3.60). However, 18.5% of Czech and 19.5% of Ukrainian respondents reported low HRQoL, while almost half reported moderate HRQoL. In the Czech sample, women had lower HRQoL than men (3.27 vs 3.59; p < 0.05; Cohen’s d = 0.47). HRQoL correlated negatively with anxiety (rho=-0.55) and depressive symptoms (rho=-0.60), and positively with social support (rho=0.50).
Conclusions: Our research shows that HIV care in Czechia cannot be evaluated solely by biomedical indicators. Around one in five PLHIV reported low HRQoL, indicating unmet psychosocial and structural needs. Public health action should combine routine HRQoL monitoring, mental health and peer support, and HIV destigmatization in healthcare, institutions, and society. Future research should examine stigma, migration and gender as HRQoL determinants.
Key messages: • One in five people living with HIV in Czechia reported low quality of life, despite access to effective HIV treatment.
• Improving HIV outcomes requires HRQoL monitoring, mental health support, and destigmatization across institutions and society.
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BibTeX
@article{pitonak2026beyond,
title = {{Beyond Viral Suppression: Quality of Life Among People Living With HIV in Czechia}},
author = {M Pitoňák and L Csémy and A Kubátová and M Malý and A Fialová and J Stupka and D Veselý and D Sedláček and R Hejzák and I Procházka},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1866},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1866},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Beyond Viral Suppression: Quality of Life Among People Living With HIV in Czechia
AU - M Pitoňák
AU - L Csémy
AU - A Kubátová
AU - M Malý
AU - A Fialová
AU - J Stupka
AU - D Veselý
AU - D Sedláček
AU - R Hejzák
AU - I Procházka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1866
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1866
AB - Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy has enabled many countries to approach the 95–95–95 HIV targets, but viral suppression alone does not ensure good health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In Czechia, systematic HRQoL data among people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been lacking. This study provides a national baseline for future monitoring within the National HIV/AIDS Program 2023–2027. Methods: We conducted the first Czech nationwide cross-sectional study among adults living with HIV monitored in ten specialized HIV centers. Data were collected online and on paper between September and November 2025 in Czech and Ukrainian, reflecting that Ukrainians are now the largest migrant minority in Czechia. HRQoL was measured using PozQoL, alongside PHQ-9, GAD-7, and perceived social support. Analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability testing, group comparisons, and Spearman correlations. Results: The sample included 594 PLHIV: 466 completed the Czech and 128 the Ukrainian questionnaire. PozQoL showed excellent internal consistency in the Czech sample (Cronbach’s α = 0.89). Mean HRQoL did not differ significantly between Czech and Ukrainian respondents (3.56 vs 3.60). However, 18.5% of Czech and 19.5% of Ukrainian respondents reported low HRQoL, while almost half reported moderate HRQoL. In the Czech sample, women had lower HRQoL than men (3.27 vs 3.59; p < 0.05; Cohen’s d = 0.47). HRQoL correlated negatively with anxiety (rho=-0.55) and depressive symptoms (rho=-0.60), and positively with social support (rho=0.50). Conclusions: Our research shows that HIV care in Czechia cannot be evaluated solely by biomedical indicators. Around one in five PLHIV reported low HRQoL, indicating unmet psychosocial and structural needs. Public health action should combine routine HRQoL monitoring, mental health and peer support, and HIV destigmatization in healthcare, institutions, and society. Future research should examine stigma, migration and gender as HRQoL determinants. Key messages: • One in five people living with HIV in Czechia reported low quality of life, despite access to effective HIV treatment. • Improving HIV outcomes requires HRQoL monitoring, mental health support, and destigmatization across institutions and society.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -