Predictors identified for losses to follow-up among HIV-seropositive patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to describe predictors of loss to follow-up (LFU) in the French Hospital Database on HIV infection (FHDH).


METHODS
We studied the prevalence and predictors of LFU among 34,835 patients enrolled in FHDH in 1999. Impacts of demographic and clinical factors were studied by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Among included patients, 1,478 (4.2%) died and 2,950 (8.5%) were lost to follow-up. LFU was more frequent among recently diagnosed patients (<1 year, 16.8%; > 1 year, 7.1). Among recently diagnosed patients, LFU was less frequent among men who have sex with men (MSM) [odds radio (OR) = 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.5;0.7)], and among patients with AIDS [OR = 0.5, 95%CI = (0.4;0.6)], and more frequent among immigrants [OR = 1.3, 95%CI = (1.0;1.5)]. Among less recently diagnosed patients, LFU was more frequent in French Departments of America than in the Paris area. The proportion of LFU fell with age, and LFU was more frequent among intravenous drug users (IVDU) than among MSM [OR = 1.2, 95%CI = (1.1;1.4)]. Patients with viral load >5,000 copies/mL or CD4 cell counts <200/mm(3) were more likely to be lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Recently diagnosed patients, IVDU, and immigrants are more often lost to follow-up, and should therefore receive special attention.
Lanoy
Emilie
E
INSERM U720, 56 Bd Auriol, BP 335, 75 625 Paris Cedex 13, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris6, Paris, F-75013 France.
Mary-Krause
Murielle
M
Tattevin
Pierre
P
Dray-Spira
Rosemary
R
Duvivier
Claudine
C
Fischer
Patricia
P
Obadia
Yolande
Y
Lert
France
F
Costagliola
Dominique
D
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013997:Time Factors
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents