title: Characteristics of and outcomes in HIV-infected patients who return to care after loss to follow-up.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of and outcomes in HIV-infected patients who returned to care after loss to follow-up (LTFU) in Northern France, between 1997 and 2006. Among the 1007 patients who were followed, 135 patients (13.4%) were LTFU during the study period. Of these 135, 74 (54.8%) returned to care after LTFU. The median duration of LTFU was 19 months. Upon returning to care, 33 out of 74 patients (44.6%) had CD4 cell counts less than 200/mm and/or AIDS. Patients who returned to care after LTFU were five times more likely to die than patients who attended clinic regularly.
authors.affiliation: CIRE Nord, Lille, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Bakhao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ould-Kaci
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salleron
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bataille
authors.forename: Frederique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonnevie
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cochonat
authors.forename: Clotilde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontier
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guerroumi
authors.forename: Yazdan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis