Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
Published on: June 11, 2011
Adverse health effects for individuals who move between HIV care centers
Hartmut B Krentz1, Heather Worthington, M John Gill
1Southern Alberta Clinic, Sheldon M Chumir Health Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada. hartmut.krentz@albertahealthservices.ca
Insights
Planned moves for HIV patients can disrupt care, leading to health declines comparable to those lost-to-follow-up (LTFU). Even with planning, patient mobility requires careful management to ensure continuity of HIV care and prevent adverse health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Patient Care Management
Background:
- Limited research exists on HIV patient mobility involving planned care transfers.
- Studies typically focus on patients lost-to-follow-up (LTFU), not those who relocate and return.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess disease progression in HIV patients who moved and returned to care.
- To compare their outcomes with patients who remained in care or were LTFU.
Main Methods:
- Identified patients leaving HIV care (2000-2008) as either moved or LTFU.
- Assessed health status of returning patients, comparing CD4 counts and new AIDS diagnoses before and after the move.
- Examined medical record transfer rates for moved patients.
Main Results:
- 44% of patients left care; 38% of those returned.
- Moved patients showed CD4 count decline and increased AIDS incidence, similar to LTFU patients.
- Only 33% of moved patients had medical records requested by new HIV centers.
Conclusions:
- Planned patient moves can cause significant care interruptions, even with advance planning.
- Health consequences for moved patients can be as severe as for LTFU patients.
- Addressing care disruptions during planned patient relocations is crucial for improving HIV patient outcomes.
Background:
Studies on patient mobility have focused on patients who become lost-to-follow-up (LTFU). Much less is known about patients who move with a planned transfer of care from one HIV center to another. We assess disease progression in patients who moved and then returned to our care compared with patients remaining or were LTFU.
Methods:
We identified which patients left our HIV care program between January 01,2000, to January 01,2008, defined how they left (either moved or LTFU), and then determined the health status of returning patients. We examined the impact of the move on their health by comparing clinical measurements (eg, CD4, new AIDS) at their departure and on return.
Results:
Forty-four percent of all patients left care; 38% of these returned. In contrast to those remaining in local care whose CD4 counts climbed, "moved" patients exhibited deterioration in both CD4 counts and incident AIDS comparable to LFTU patients. Only 1 in 3 patients who moved had our medical records requested by a new HIV center.
Conclusions:
We suspect that despite forward planning, a move may result in potential serious interruptions and/or disengagements of care. The potential harmful health effects can in some be equivalent becoming LTFU. Recognizing and addressing the potential disruption in care from a planned move may be of value in improving outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...