title: Causes of death in hospitalised HIV-infected patients at a National Referral Centre in Singapore: a retrospective review from 2008 to 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved outcomes for individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study describes the causes of death in hospitalised HIV-positive patients from 2008 to 2010 in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the national referral centre for HIV management in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrospectively collected from HIV-positive patients who died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven deaths occurred in the study period. A majority of patients died of non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illnesses (54.7%). The median CD4 count was 39.5 (range, 20.0 to 97.0), and 7 patients had HIV viral loads of <200 copies/mL. There were 27 deaths due to opportunistic infections, 27 due to non AIDS-defining infections, 4 due to non AIDS-associated malignancies. This study also describes 3 deaths due to cardiovascular events, and 1 due to hepatic failure. Patients who had virologic suppression were more likely to die from non AIDS-defining causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Causes of death in HIV-positive patients have changed in the HAART era. More research is required to further understand and address barriers to testing and treatment to further improve outcomes in HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. chen_seong_wong@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: Chen Seong
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Francis A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavailler
authors.forename: Oon Tek
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Cheng Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yee Sin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: Arlene C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents