Long-term survival of patients with AIDS, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and respiratory failure.
OBJECTIVE
--To evaluate the long-term survival of patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Ill, with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.


METHODS
--Cohort study over a 4-year period.


METHODS
--Municipal teaching hospital.


METHODS
--Seventy-three consecutive patients who had 75 episodes of P carinii pneumonia and acute respiratory failure were followed up from the time of hospital admission until their deaths or the termination of the study.


METHODS
--Duration of survival from the time of initial hospital admission with diagnoses of P carinii pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.


RESULTS
--Consistent with recent reports of improved short-term outcome, the immediate hospital survival was 47% (35/75). The 1-year survival was 37% (95% confidence interval, 26% to 49%). Two patients have survived for 40 months. Almost three quarters of the patients who survived hospitalization lived for at least 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
--The long-term prognosis for patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, P carinii pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure is now substantially better than anticipated. Respiratory failure due to P carinii pneumonia does not necessarily signify the terminal phase of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Accordingly, patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, P carinii pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure can be appropriate candidates for life support in medical intensive care units.
Friedman
Y
Y
Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Ill 60612.
Franklin
C
C
Freels
S
S
Weil
M H
MH
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality*