EVOLVING DISEASE SPECTRUM AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE WITH HIV IN EASTERN CHINA: A 12-YEAR STUDY

Abstract

Background

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a serious public health problem. Opportunistic infections, and malignancies are the more frequent cause of hospitalization. We investigated hospitalized people with HIV (PWH) over the past 12 years, to determine the type and changing trends of the disease presentation in a large reference academic centre in Eastern China.

Methods

We evaluated a total of 2,140 hospitalized PWH from January 2010 to December 2021. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data, opportunistic infections, malignancies and in-hospital outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

Over time, the incidence of opportunistic infections has declined. Conversely, the incidence of malignancies has increased, and non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs) have occurred more frequently than ADCs. In 2020-2021, the incidence of NADCs became higher than that of opportunistic infections. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 8.1%. and the in-hospital mortality gradually decreased over time. Opportunistic infections, malignancies, and CD4+T cell count were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

Our study provided a comprehensive description of the disease characteristics of PWH in eastern China over the past 12 years. The disease spectrum of PWH has undergone tremendous changes over time, highlighting the necessity of early HIV diagnosis and providing greater access to optimal treatment and management strategies.

Keywords: HIV; Early Diagnosis; Changing treatments.