title: Clinical characteristics and predictors of mortality in hospitalized HIV-infected Nigerians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a chief cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, the clinical characteristics and predictors of mortality among hospitalized HIV infected adult Nigerians are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 354 patients were reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics. Predictors of mortality using logistic regression in a retrospective study were also reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 109 (30.8%) males and 245 (69.2%) females participated in the study. The mean age of all participants was 35 ± 8 years. Median baseline CD4 cell counts and viral load were 91 cells/mm³ and 63,438 copies/ml respectively. There was a total of 123 (34.8%) deaths while 231 (65.2%) patients were discharged home. Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common diagnosis on admission as well as the leading cause of death. Among all subjects, only male gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.63-8.29); CD4 cell count ≤ 200 cells/mm³ (AOR 5.28, 95% CI: 2.99-9.31); length of hospital stay < 3 days (AOR 4.77, 95% CI: 1.35-16.86); and age ≥ 35 years (AOR 2.43, 95% CI: 1.41-4.19) were predictive of death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings illustrate the need for early diagnosis of HIV infection, appropriate treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections, and improved access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
authors.affiliation: AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria Plus, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. ellagaba@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Patricia Aladi
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Agaba
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Digin
authors.forename: Rahila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Makai
authors.forename: Labake
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Apena
authors.forename: Oche O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Agbaji
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Idoko
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kanki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult