HIV Symptom Clusters Are Similar Using the Dimensions of Symptom Occurrence and Distress

The study analyzed data from 2,000 HIV patients to determine if symptom clusters differed when using symptom occurrence rates versus distress ratings. It identified four symptom clusters: gastrointestinal, psychological, pain, and body image. The psychological, pain, and body image clusters had identical symptoms across both dimensions, while the gastrointestinal cluster included additional symptoms in the distress dimension. The study concluded that symptom clusters were relatively similar across both dimensions, suggesting that understanding these clusters could aid in developing targeted interventions for people living with HIV.