title: Hospitalized HIV-infected patients in the HAART era: a view from the inner city.
abstract: To evaluate hospitalizations of HIV-infected patients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, we analyzed 2736 admissions of 1562 HIV-infected patients to Cook County Hospital from September 20, 1999 to July 10, 2002. Patients were predominantly African American (81%), male (72%), and active substance abusers (74%). Only 48% of patients with a prior HIV diagnosis were taking HAART and 37% of them had a viral load less than 1000 copies per milliliter. Patients on protease inhibitor (PI)-sparing regimens more frequently achieved a viral load less than 1000 copies per milliliter than those on a PI-containing regimens (41% vs. 34% p = 0.036). For patients with CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells per milliliter, those not taking HAART were more likely African American (83% vs. 76%, p < 0.031), homeless (13% vs. 5%, p < 0.001), active substance abusers (79% vs. 65%, p < 0.001), female (28% vs. 22%, p = 0.001), new to the hospital system (19% vs. 6%, p < 0.001), or not recently seen in the outpatient clinic (42% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). In our population, active substance abuse was prevalent and only a minority of patients was taking HAART. Women were receiving HAART less often, independent of race and substance abuse. Aggressive programs are needed in high-risk populations to address substance abuse issues and to improve patient use of HAART.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Cook County Hospital, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. Jpulvir@hektoen.org
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pulvirenti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glowacki
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Muppiddi
authors.forename: Neelima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Surapaneni
authors.forename: Cheri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gail
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jezisek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019562:Viral Load