Loss of follow-up and associated factors in patients enrolled in the HIV/AIDS program of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Colombia, 2012-2013.
BACKGROUND
Regular long-term clinical follow-up is an important component of HIV care.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the reasons for follow-up loss among patients enrolled in the HIV/AIDS program of a university hospital.


METHODS
A nested case-control study was carried out on a retrospective cohort between January 1st, 2012 and July 31st, 2013.


RESULTS
A group of 45 patients was selected; the incidence density rate of patients lost to follow-up was 17.7 per 100 patient/years. The following variables were significantly linked to follow-up loss in the bivariate analysis: Unemployment (p=0.000); alcohol consumption (p=0.004); number of years of evolution of the disease (p=0.032); gender (p=0.027), and mean age of 34 years (p=0.000). When logistic regression was adjusted for the probability of follow-up loss the significant variables were: Mean age of 34 years (p=0.019, 95% CI: 0.871-0.976); female (p=0.017, 95% CI: 1.903-31.83); alcohol consumption (p=0.028, 95% CI: 0.040-0.830), and unemployment (p=0.001, 95% CI: 4.696-464.692).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV/AIDS programs need to establish follow-up systems and means to trace any losses in order to establish strategies to improve patient retention and, thus, their long-term quality of life.
Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. jrtamara2101@yahoo.com.
José Roberto
JR
Támara-Ramírez
Carlos Arturo
CA
Álvarez
Jesús
J
Rodríguez
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies
HIV infections; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/therapy; incidence; lost to follow-up; risk factors