1. Care Continuum and Postdischarge Outcomes Among HIV-Infected Adults Admitted to the Hospital in Zambia
- Author
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Cassidy W. Claassen, Edford Sinkala, Paul M. Zulu, Mwanza Wa Mwanza, Michael J. Mugavero, Michael J. Vinikoor, Charles B. Holmes, Elvin Geng, Lottie Haachambwa, Janet M. Turan, David Rutagwera, and Nyakulira Kandiwo
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Population ,Psychological intervention ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,medicine.disease_cause ,Major Articles ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Hiv infected ,medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,education ,education.field_of_study ,business.industry ,Critically ill ,care continuum ,medicine.disease ,HIV infection ,030112 virology ,Care Continuum ,3. Good health ,Infectious Diseases ,Oncology ,Africa ,Coinfection ,business ,Viral load ,health systems ,hospitalization - Abstract
Background We characterized the extent of antiretroviral therapy (ART) experience and postdischarge mortality among hospitalized HIV-infected adults in Zambia. Methods At a central hospital with an opt-out HIV testing program, we enrolled HIV-infected adults (18+ years) admitted to internal medicine using a population-based sampling frame. Critically ill patients were excluded. Participants underwent a questionnaire regarding their HIV care history and CD4 count and viral load (VL) testing. We followed participants to 3 months after discharge. We analyzed prior awareness of HIV-positive status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, and VL suppression (VS; 6 months on ART, 74.4% had VS. The majority (92.5%) were discharged, and by 3 months, 48 (21.7%) had died. Risk of postdischarge mortality increased with decreasing CD4, and there was a trend toward reduced risk in those treated for active tuberculosis. Conclusions Most HIV-related hospitalizations and deaths may now occur among ART-experienced vs -naïve individuals in Zambia. Development and evaluation of inpatient interventions are needed to mitigate the high risk of death in the postdischarge period., In Zambia, 86% of hospitalized HIV-infected adults were antiretroviral therapy–experienced, 50% were virally suppressed, and 71% had advanced HIV disease. Mortality within 3 months of discharge was 20%. Advanced HIV disease interventions should target inpatients in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Published
- 2019