title: Predicting hospitalization among HIV-infected antiretroviral naïve patients starting HAART: determining clinical markers and exploring social pathways.
abstract: In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), hospitalization as a measure of morbidity has become of increasing interest. The objectives of this study were to determine clinical predictors of hospitalization among HIV-infected persons initiating HAART and to explore the impact of gender and drug use on hospitalization. The analysis was based on a cohort of HIV-positive individuals initiating HAART between 1996 and 2001. Information on hospitalizations was obtained through data linkage with the BC Ministry of Health. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to assess variables associated with time to hospitalization. A total of 1,605 people were eligible and 672 (42%) were hospitalized for one or more days. The final multivariate model indicated that there was an increased risk of hospitalization among those with high baseline HIV RNA (HR for > 100,000 copies/mL: 1.26; 95%CI: 1.16-1.59) or low CD4 cell counts (HR [95% CI] compared to > or = 200 cells/mm3: 1.62 [1.28-2.06] and 1.29 [1.07-1.56] for < 50 and 50-199 cells/mm(3), respectively). Other factors, including adherence, previous hospitalization, gender and injection drug use remained predictive of hospitalization. These findings highlight the importance of closely monitoring patients starting therapy with low CD4 cell counts in order to mediate or prevent outcomes requiring hospitalization.
authors: BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, US.
authors: Sarah J
authors: SJ
authors: Fielden
authors: Melanie L A
authors: ML
authors: Rusch
authors: Adrian R
authors: AR
authors: Levy
authors: Benita
authors: B
authors: Yip
authors: Evan
authors: E
authors: Wood
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Harrigan
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Goldstone
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Guillemi
authors: Julio S
authors: JS
authors: Montaner
authors: Robert S
authors: RS
authors: Hogg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D015415:Biomarkers; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics; D019562:Viral Load / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers