Bed occupancy due to HIV/AIDS in an urban hospital medical ward in Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proportion of patients with HIV-related illness admitted to a medical ward.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Rubaga Hospital, the third largest hospital in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.


METHODS
A total of 449 patients admitted to the medical ward between September and November 1992.


RESULTS
Of the 449 patients, 390 (86.8%) agreed to provide a blood sample for HIV serology. Of these, 55.6% (95% confidence interval, 50.7-60.5%) were positive for HIV. Eighty-six (22.2%) of all patients [71 (33%) of the seropositives and six (3.5%) of the seronegatives] met the World Health Organization case definition for AIDS in Africa. The HIV-seropositives had a mortality rate of 17.4%, significantly higher (P = 0.00057) than the 5.8% rate observed in the seronegative group. The overall mortality rate was 13.7% and was significantly associated with HIV infection (P = 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Over 50% of the medical admissions were HIV-positive revealing the serious impact of HIV on the health-care system.
Tembo
G
G
AIDS Control Programme, Entebbe, Uganda.
Friesan
H
H
Asiimwe-Okiror
G
G
Moser
R
R
Naamara
W
W
Bakyaita
N
N
Musinguzi
J
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D014454:Uganda; D014944:World Health Organization