Declining morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. HIV Outpatient Study Investigators.
METHODS
National surveillance data show recent, marked reductions in morbidity and mortality associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To evaluate these declines, we analyzed data on 1255 patients, each of whom had at least one CD4+ count below 100 cells per cubic millimeter, who were seen at nine clinics specializing in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in eight U.S. cities from January 1994 through June 1997.


RESULTS
Mortality among the patients declined from 29.4 per 100 person-years in the first quarter of 1995 to 8.8 per 100 in the second quarter of 1997. There were reductions in mortality regardless of sex, race, age, and risk factors for transmission of HIV. The incidence of any of three major opportunistic infections (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, Mycobacterium avium complex disease, and cytomegalovirus retinitis) declined from 21.9 per 100 person-years in 1994 to 3.7 per 100 person-years by mid-1997. In a failure-rate model, increases in the intensity of antiretroviral therapy (classified as none, monotherapy, combination therapy without a protease inhibitor, and combination therapy with a protease inhibitor) were associated with stepwise reductions in morbidity and mortality. Combination antiretroviral therapy was associated with the most benefit; the inclusion of protease inhibitors in such regimens conferred additional benefit. Patients with private insurance were more often prescribed protease inhibitors and had lower mortality rates than those insured by Medicare or Medicaid.


CONCLUSIONS
The recent declines in morbidity and mortality due to AIDS are attributable to the use of more intensive antiretroviral therapies.
Palella
F J
FJ
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611-0949, USA.
Delaney
K M
KM
Moorman
A C
AC
Loveless
M O
MO
Fuhrer
J
J
Satten
G A
GA
Aschman
D J
DJ
Holmberg
S D
SD
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors