Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42404962›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Global prevalence and biopsychosocial correlates of psychological distress among people living with HIV: an updated theory-informed meta-analysis.

Qiaoting Xue, Qilian He, Zheng Zhu, Hongli Yang, Xin He

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Qiaoting Xue *School of Nursing, Dali University, Dali, China.
Qilian He *School of Nursing, Dali University, Dali, China.
Zheng ZhuSchool of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hongli YangYunnan Provincial Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China.
Xin HeNanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Psychological distress (PD) is common among people living with HIV (PLWH), but prevalence estimates vary substantially. This study aimed to synthesize the prevalence of PD among PLWH and examine its heterogeneity and associated factors. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020, we systematically searched seven electronic databases from inception to June 20, 2025, for observational studies on PD prevalence and associated factors among PLWH. PD was operationalized as a binary outcome using validated self-report instruments with explicit cut-offs. The pooled prevalence was estimated using a generalized linear mixed model, and associated factors were synthesized as pooled ORs. Subgroup analyses and univariable meta-regression were performed to explore heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed, and the certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Results: Sixteen studies (10,204 PLWH) were included. The pooled prevalence of PD was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28-0.53), with considerable heterogeneity ( Conclusion: PD is a common burden among PLWH, and this review provides an updated evidence base to identify vulnerable populations, refine measurement, and inform care priorities, though findings should be interpreted cautiously due to considerable heterogeneity and low to very low certainty of evidence. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251089847, identifier (CRD420251089847).

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsPsychological DistressStress, PsychologicalGlobal HealthHumansPrevalenceassociated factorsmeta-analysispeople living with HIVprevalencepsychological distresssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42404962
PMCPMC13328019

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