Survival of patients with AIDS depends on physicians' experience treating the disease
Article Abstract:
The survival of AIDS patients appears to depend on the level of experience of their physicians in treating AIDS. In a study conducted by University of Washington School of Medicine researchers at a local health maintenance organization, AIDS patients treated by primary care physicians who treated at least five previous patients with the disease were found to survive more than a year longer than patients whose physicians had no experience. At any time after their AIDS diagnosis, patients treated by the most experienced physicians were 46% less likely to die than patients with the least experienced physicians. Adjustments were made for a number of factors, such as severity of illness. Patient outcome improved as individual physicians gained experience. Experienced physicians were more likely to measure CD4 cell counts before AIDS diagnosis, to provide better care for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, to prescribe antiretroviral therapy, and to use specialty consultations.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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AIDS Vaccine Moves Into Phase 3 Trials
Article Abstract:
The FDA has approved the first large-scale test of a vaccine to prevent HIV infection. AIDSVAX, developed by VaxGen Inc. of South San Francisco, CA, will be tested on high-risk volunteers in the US, Canada, and Thailand. Homosexual men, sex partners of HIV-infected people, injecting drug users, and other high-risk people will receive either the experimental vaccine or a placebo. Some members of the AIDS advocacy and research communities have criticized the vaccine for its limited immunological effect, as it is unlikely to provide complete protection against HIV infection.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1998
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