Marked improvement in survival among adult Croatian AIDS patients after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Josip Begovac
• Author: Miroslav Lisić
• Author: Davorka Lukas
• Author: Tomislav Maretić
• Author: Tihana Kniewald
• Author: Thomas E. Nowotny
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

We compared the survival of patients following the first AIDS event in Croatia from the period 1986-1996 to the period 1997-2000. A total of 72 (81.8%) out of 88 patients from 1986-1996 and 18 (32.1%) out of 56 from 1997-2000 died. Survival following the first AIDS-defining illness markedly improved in the period 1997-2000 compared to the period 1986-1996 (adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) for patients surviving more than 6 months: 0.11, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.04-0.29). A CD4+ cell count of < 100 x 10(6)/L was an independent risk factor for patients surviving up to 2 years (adjusted HR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.1-3.43, p = 0.02). Patients with tuberculosis or fungal infections had a longer survival when compared to other diagnosis (adjusted HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.32-0.90, p = 0.01). However, despite dramatic survival benefit of combination antiretroviral therapy, mortality at six months following the first AIDS event was similar in the two study periods and the one-year probability of death was still substantial (27.2%) in the period 1997-2000.

Abstract (croatian)

Usporedili smo preživljavanje bolesnika nakon dijagnoze AIDS-a u Hrvatskoj u razdoblju 1986–1996. g. s razdobljem 1997– 2000. g. 72 (81,8%) od 88 bolesnika iz 1986–1996. g. i 18 (32,1%) od 56 iz 1997–2000. g. je umrlo. Preživljavanje nakon prve AIDS-definirajuće bolesti se značajno poboljšalo u razdoblju 1997–2000 u odnosu na razdoblje 1986–1996 (prilagođeni omjer hazarda (HR) za bolesnike koji su preživjeli više od 6 mjeseci: 0,11, 95% CI: 0,04–0,29). Broj CD4+ limfocita < 100 x 10na6/L je također bio neovisni čimbenik preživljavanja za bolesnike koji su preživjeli 2 godine (prilagođeni HR=1,96, 95%CI=1,1–3,43, p=0,02). Bolesnici s tuberkulozom ili gljivičnom infekcijom imali su bolje preživljavanje u usporedbi s drugim dijagnozama (prilagođeni HR=0,53, 95%CI=0,32–0,90, p=0,01). Međutim, usprkos izrazito boljem preživljavanju zbog kombinirane antiretrovirusne terapije, smrtnost 6 mjeseci od AIDS-a je bila slična u oba razdoblja, a smrtnost nakon jedne godine od AIDS-a je bila još uvijek značajna (27,2%) u razdoblju 1997–2000.

• Keywords (english): Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy - mortality; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Survival Analysis; Adolescent; Adult; Croatia; Female; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Collegium Antropologicum
• Numbering: vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 175-179
• p-ISSN: 0350-6134
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:963826
• Publication: 2006-03
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/8909
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 10:59:40