The AIDS-defining diagnosis and subsequent complications: a survival-based severity index

Article Abstract:

A model was designed based on factors which influence the outcome of the AIDS, including 19 AIDS-defining conditions and 80 AIDS-related complications. The model was tested using information from 3,937 patients who were diagnosed with AIDS during the years 1983 and 1986 and followed through 1988. Three groups were formed from the initial symptoms that led to the diagnosis of AIDS. Survival times of patients in these groups were 25, 10 and seven months, ranging from the least to most severe symptoms. The severity of complications occurring three months after initial diagnosis of AIDS was used to further classify the groups into four levels. Based on these groupings, the time of survival of patients could be more closely predicted, and ranged from 43 months for those who were in the least severe diagnosis group with least severe complications, to 12 months for those in the most severe diagnosis group with the most severe complications. This severity index can be used to predict the survival of individuals with AIDS, with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of disease. It can be used to decide on plans for care and treatment, and financial and social support. The expected survival times can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies to see if they improve survival. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Models, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Prognosis, AIDS patients, AIDS (Disease)

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Association of maternal HIV infection with low birth weight

Article Abstract:

HIV infection in pregnant women appears to be a risk factor for low-birth-weight babies even after adjusting for other risk factors. This was demonstrated in a study of 772 HIV-infected pregnant women and 2,377 healthy pregnant women. While only 9% of the healthy women delivered a low-birth-weight baby, 29% of the HIV-infected women fell into this category. HIV-infected women had a higher risk of a low-birth-weight baby even if they delivered at term. Drug users, smokers, and African-American women were more likely to deliver a low-birth-weight baby.

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, HIV infections, Pregnant women, Birth weight, Low, Low birth weight, Pregnancy, HIV infection in pregnancy

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Repeated emergency department use by HIV-infected persons: effect of clinic accessibility and expertise in HIV care

Article Abstract:

HIV-infected persons treated by clinics with readily accessible physicians experienced with HIV may be less reliant on emergency departments (ED) for medical care. Researchers evaluated 157 clinics treating 6,820 HIV-infected patients. About one-fourth of patients repeatedly visited the ED, most often for respiratory illness. Patients treated at clinics with on-call physicians and evening and weekend services made fewer ED visits, as did those treated at clinics with greater AIDS experience.

Medical care, HIV patients, Medical care utilization, Hospitals, Hospital emergency services

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