HIV-2-infected patients survive longer than HIV-1-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare survival of patients infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2.


METHODS
Longitudinal follow-up of 175 HIV-1- and 294 HIV-2-infected patients identified in, or referred to a hospital in The Gambia.


METHODS
Survival analysis methods were used and the death rate ratios for HIV-2 relative to HIV-1 patients were estimated using proportional hazard regression models that allowed for age, sex and clinical or immunological features.


RESULTS
The overall death rate ratio for HIV-2 relative to HIV-1 was 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49-0.91] when adjusted for age, sex and World Health Organization Bangui clinical classification. When allowing for age, sex and three strata of CD4+ count, the rate ratio was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.43-0.94), and for three strata of beta 2-microglobulin levels 0.60 (95% CI, 0.42-0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality rate in HIV-2-infected patients is approximately two-thirds of that for HIV-1-infected patients.
Whittle
H
H
Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa.
Morris
J
J
Todd
J
J
Corrah
T
T
Sabally
S
S
Bangali
J
J
Ngom
P T
PT
Rolfe
M
M
Wilkins
A
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate