Characterization of newly diagnosed HIV‐infected patients who are lost to follow up

Abstract

Purpose of the study: We previously identified that a great amount of newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients were lost to follow up after the diagnosis. The aim of the present study is to describe the characteristics of the newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients who are lost to follow up. Methods: We reviewed the clinical charts of the adult (>18 y/o) patients who attended for the first time our HIV clinic between 1/ Jan/2005 and 31/Dec/2010. Among the patients who were newly diagnosed with HIV infection, we identified those who consulted the clinic only once. We considered patients were lost to follow up if they never came back within 12 months. We compared age, gender, nationality, education level and socioeconomic characteristics between those patients who were lost to follow and those who continue HIV care. We considered the first visit the one in which the patient was informed about his/her HIV seropositive condition. Summary of results: We included 504 patients, 179 (35.5%) never came back after the first visit. Patients who were lost to follow up (A) were younger (mean age 33.8 vs 39.07 y/o) than those who continue follow up (B). We identified 11/179 patients older than 50 years in A and 52/325 in B; P =0.001 (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.70). In A 136/179 were male and 232/325 in B 142/179 were Argentinian in A and 289/325 in B; P=0.003 (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.28-0.81). In A 61/179 lived alone and 39/325 in B; P=0.000 (OR 3.79, 95% CI 0.64-1.37). 41/179 had health insurance in A and 162/325 in B; P=0.003 (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.28-0.81). A university or tertiary degree was reached in 33/179 in A and 110/325 in B; P=0.000 (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.70). Conclusions: We must continue reinforcing need for consistent clinical care in the newly diagnosed HIV patients, especially those who are younger, foreigners and socially excluded. (Table Presented).