The spread of HIV infection with the consequent death from AIDS removes some resources from the economy, impedes the preservation of human capital in the economy and undermines the foundations of economic development. The analysis of foreign and domestic research demonstrates the difficulty of assessing the impact of HIV infection on economic development. There is a variety of approaches and methods used for these assessments. Thus, the search for an optimal model to assess the impact of HIV infection on economic development becomes increasingly relevant. We have substantiated the calculation the economic burden of the disease caused by HIV infection. The proposed method for assessing socio-economic losses due to premature mortality from HIV infection includes three main types: the explicit economic costs from the premature mortality of the working-age population, the implicit costs from the premature mortality of the incapable population and the implicit economic costs from premature mortality of women of child-bearing age due to their inability to participate in the reproduction of the labour force. The magnitude of the region’s gross regional product (GRP) losses from fatal HIV infection increased 1.85 times between the years 2012 and 2016. As a result, of premature mortality from HIV infection, the Sverdlovsk oblast GRP decreased by 1.68 % in 2016, total losses were 16.2 billion roubles. In the structure of the total losses, about 70 % are implicit losses associated with the mortality of women of child-bearing age and therefore, the loss of the opportunity to increase the population of the region. The further direction of the research is to assess the socio-economic impact of investments in HIV treatment on the quality of life in the region.

Assessment of quality of life of patients with HIV infection is of great importance due to the unfavourable epidemic situation with this disease both in the Russian Federation in general and in the Sverdlovsk region. This chronic disease, accompanied by long-term therapy and medical supervision, has adverse effects on lives of people carrying HIV/AIDS. Additionally, it negatively impacts the functioning of all spheres of the society. In the autumn of 2018, we studied the population’s quality of life in the Sverdlovsk region using the methodology of the World Health Organization (the WHOQOL-26 questionnaire). This questionnaire considers quality of life as an integral characteristic of physical, psychological, emotional, and social functioning of a healthy or sick person based on subjective perception. We added specific questions in the questionnaire to assess how the quality of life of a person with a positive HIV status changes depending on whether the respondent receives antiretroviral therapy. The sample included patients visiting branches of the Sverdlovsk Regional Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS. The quality of life of the survey participants was assessed in four dimensions: physical health, psychological well-being, social connections and the environment. The majority of HIV patients assess their quality of life and health by means of averages. However, according to the “physical health” and “social well-being” measurements, the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS is lower than in the control group of healthy respondents. The study’s results demonstrate the importance of developing and implementing a program of professional and socio-economic rehabilitation for people who carry HIV/AIDS to maintain social functioning and optimal quality of life.