[Hospital morbidity in HIV infected patients]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Increasing life expectancy in HIV patients on HAART leads to management of comorbidities.
• Chronic liver pathology, cardiovascular diseases, and treatment side effects contribute to hospitalizations.
• Understanding clinical and epidemiological characteristics is crucial for managing hospital admissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospital admissions in HIV-infected patients.
• To identify common causes of hospitalization and associated factors.
• To inform healthcare strategies for managing HIV comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive-retrospective study design.
• Review of clinical records of admitted HIV patients over one year.
• Analysis of demographic, clinical, and etiological data.

Main Results:

• 125 hospitalizations in 82 patients; 77% male, 71% co-infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
• Median age 42 years; 64% acquired HIV through intravenous drug use.
• Respiratory tract pathology (32%) and AIDS-defining illnesses (22%, mainly Tuberculosis) were primary admission causes.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalized HIV patients are predominantly male, drug users, and HCV positive.
• Respiratory pathology and opportunistic infections, particularly Tuberculosis, are leading causes of admission.
• Effective management of comorbidities and opportunistic diseases remains critical for this population.