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Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
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Published on: June 11, 2011

Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of HIV-infected patients in Kuala Lumpur

I Cheong1, A Lim, C Lee

  • 1Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|September 1, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Malaysians with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often seek treatment late, with most patients being intravenous drug users and males aged 26-45. Tuberculosis and Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia were common AIDS-defining illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The study examines the demographic and risk factor profile of 334 HIV-infected patients treated at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 1987 and 1995.
  • It highlights the prevalence of HIV infection among different ethnic groups and age demographics in Malaysia during this period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the characteristics of HIV-positive patients, including demographics, risk behaviors, and clinical progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
  • To identify common AIDS-defining illnesses and assess the stage at which Malaysian patients present for treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patient records from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (1987-1995).
  • Data collected included patient demographics, ethnicity, age, gender, risk behaviors (intravenous drug use, sexual practices, transfusions, tattoos), clinical progression to AIDS, and causes of AIDS-defining events.

Main Results:

  • The majority of patients were Malay (159) and Chinese (108), predominantly male (96.1%), and aged 26-45 years (65.9%).
  • Intravenous drug use was the primary risk factor (77%), followed by heterosexual promiscuity (59 patients).
  • Sixty-six patients progressed to AIDS, with tuberculosis (56%) and Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia (22.7%) being the most frequent AIDS-defining events. The mean CD4 count at AIDS progression was 130/mm3, with a mean progression time of 2.42 years.

Conclusions:

  • Malaysian HIV patients tend to seek treatment at advanced stages of the disease.
  • The findings underscore the need for earlier HIV detection and intervention programs in Malaysia, particularly targeting high-risk groups.

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