Causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults in the era of potent antiretroviral therapy: emerging role of hepatitis and cancers, persistent role of AIDS.
BACKGROUND
In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) mortality has decreased substantially among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people with access to HAART, but there are concerns regarding co-morbidities and adverse effects of HAART, which may impair vital prognosis. The Mortality 2000 study examined the causes of death in HIV-infected adults at a national level in France in the year 2000.


METHODS
All French hospital wards known to be involved in the management of HIV infection were asked to notify prospectively the deaths that occurred in 2000 among HIV-infected adults. The causes of death were documented using a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
The 185 participating wards notified 964 deaths. The main underlying causes of death were AIDS-related (47%, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: 23%), viral hepatitis (11%, hepatitis C: 9%, hepatitis B: 2%), cancer not related to AIDS or hepatitis (11%), cardiovascular disease (7%), bacterial infections (6%), suicide (4%), and adverse effect of antiretroviral treatments (1%). Among AIDS-related deaths, HIV infection had been diagnosed recently in 20%. Smoking was recorded in 72% of cancer-related deaths and alcohol consumption in 54% of hepatitis-related deaths. Among non-HIV related deaths between 25 and 64 years, the proportion of infectious diseases (including HCV and HBV-related deaths) was higher in HIV-infected adults than in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved strategies for detecting HIV infection before AIDS-defining complications occur are needed in the era of HAART. The prevention of non-AIDS related cancers, especially lung cancer, the management of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and of viral hepatitis are also important priorities.
Lewden
Charlotte
C
INSERM U593 (exU330), 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
Salmon
Dominique
D
Morlat
Philippe
P
Bévilacqua
Sibylle
S
Jougla
Eric
E
Bonnet
Fabrice
F
Héripret
Laurence
L
Costagliola
Dominique
D
May
Thierry
T
Chêne
Geneviève
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*