Comparative mortality in HIV-infected patients in Denmark, 1995-2005.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• HIV infection significantly impacted patient mortality prior to 1995.
• Advances in treatment since 1995 have aimed to reduce excess mortality in HIV patients.
• Longitudinal cohort studies are crucial for understanding long-term outcomes in HIV management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess excess mortality trends in a Danish HIV-infected cohort from 1995 to 2005.
• To analyze mortality rates by age, sex, and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) status.
• To compare observed HIV patient mortality with expected rates in the general population.

Main Methods:

• Follow-up (FU) of 3990 HIV patients treated at 8 specialized Danish clinics (1995-2005).
• Utilized the Danish Civil Registration System (CRS) for comprehensive patient tracking.
• Calculated excess mortality by comparing observed deaths to expected rates derived from a matched general population sample (approx. 92 per HIV patient).

Main Results:

• Overall annual mortality rate (q) for the HIV cohort was 38 per 1000 patient-years.
• Mortality rates increased with age, from 30/1000 (25-30 years) to 93/1000 (65-70 years).
• Hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV+) individuals exhibited higher mortality (q=54/1000) compared to HCV-negative (HCV-) individuals (q=32/1000).

Conclusions:

• Excess mortality among HIV patients has substantially decreased since 1995.
• Mortality rates vary significantly by age, sex, and HCV co-infection status.
• Continued monitoring and management strategies are essential for improving long-term survival in HIV-infected populations.