Preventable Deaths among HIV-Positive Patients: A Real-Life Perspective from a Teaching Hospital in Northern Mexico
Journal Title: HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment – Open Journal - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more effective and better tolerated and for this reason the gap between life expectancy of an HIV-seropositive individual and a seronegative one has been closing. This study was carried out to identify the main causes of death in in HIV-infected patients in a tertiary-care hospital as well as relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors that contribute to their prognosis. Aim The aim of the present study is to identify the main causes of death in HIV/AIDS patients as well as relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors that contribute to their prognosis. Methods A retrospective cohort was conducted with confirmed HIV-infected adult patients who died between January 2010 and January 2017. Sociodemographic and clinical data were taken from their clinical records to carry out a statistical analysis on the mortality of these patients and the relevant factors that contributed. Results A total of 120 patients with in-hospital mortality and HIV diagnosis were included, of these, 55% were allocated to an AIDS defining event, 75.8% had an HIV diagnosis of less than 6 months from their death, 88.3% received HIV testing for suspicion or confirmation of an AIDS defining event, and 50% had two or more active AIDS defining events at admission. Conclusion A major public health concern is a late HIV/AIDS diagnosis, a situation that is occurring in Mexico. Despite universal access to antiretroviral treatment, the most common causes of mortality in HIV-positive patients are still AIDS defining events, mainly tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections that with a prompt diagnosis might have been prevented if these patients had initiated early antiretroviral therapy.
Authors and Affiliations
Adrián Camacho-Ortiz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP555410
- DOI 10.17140/HARTOJ-5-128
- Views 100
- Downloads 0
Perceptions of HIV-Associated Stigma in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Introduction: The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has one of the highest HIV rates in the U.S. to date. In order to understand the high prevalence of HIV, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to HIV, especi...
Potential Therapy of HIV/AIDS and Ebola Outbreak with Pregnancy Hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HIV is a retrovirus that destroys hosts’ immune system. AIDS is a late stage HIV infection. About 35 million people are living worldwide with HIV/AIDS, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although there is no known cure, advan...
Thunderclap Headache in HIV Positive Patients: Aetiology, Clinical Findings and Long-Term Follow-Up of a Series of 5 Cases
Background: Thunderclap headache is a severe headache of sudden onset that peaks within a few seconds. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, etiologies and long-term prognosis of thunderclap...
Cardiac Manifestations in HIV Infected Children. Are they under Diagnosed?
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac manifestations in HIV-infected children in India. Methods & Results: This was a cross sectional study in HIV positive children up to 18 years of age, at a pediatr...
Religious and Psychosocial Covariates of Health-Related Quality of Life in People Living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is a chronic, highly stigmatized illness that requires significant lifestyle adjustments, including consistent adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in order for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to survive...