Odlum M, Yoon S. Understanding Comorbidities and Their Contribution to Predictors of Medical Resource Utilization for an Age- and Sex-Matched Patient Population Living With HIV: Cross-Sectional Study.
JMIR Aging 2019;
2:e13865. [PMID:
31516123 PMCID:
PMC6746060 DOI:
10.2196/13865]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
More than 60% of people aging with HIV are observed to have multiple comorbidities, which are attributed to a variety of factors (eg, biological and environmental), with sex differences observed. However, understanding these differences and their contribution to medical resource utilization remains challenging as studies conducted exclusively and predominantly among males do not translate well to females, resulting in inconsistent findings across study cohorts and limiting our knowledge of sex-specific comorbidities.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to provide further insight into aging-related comorbidities, their associated sex-based differences, and their contribution to medical resource utilization, through the analysis of HIV patient data matched by sex.
METHODS
International Classification of Disease 9/10 diagnostic codes that comprise the electronic health records of males (N=229) and females (N=229) were categorized by individual characteristics, chronic and mental health conditions, treatment, high-risk behaviors, and infections and the codes were used as predictors of medical resource utilization represented by Charlson comorbidity scores.
RESULTS
Significant contributors to high Charlson scores in males were age (beta=2.37; 95% CI 1.45-3.29), longer hospital stay (beta=.046; 95% CI 0.009-0.083), malnutrition (beta=2.96; 95% CI 1.72-4.20), kidney failure (beta=2.23; 95% CI 0.934-3.52), chemotherapy (beta=3.58; 95% CI 2.16-5.002), history of tobacco use (beta=1.40; 95% CI 0.200-2.61), and hepatitis C (beta=1.49; 95% CI 0.181-2.79). Significant contributors to high Charlson scores in females were age (beta=1.37; 95% CI 0.361-2.38), longer hospital stay (beta=.042; 95% CI 0.005-0.078), heart failure (beta=2.41; 95% CI 0.833-3.98), chemotherapy (beta=3.48; 95% CI 1.626-5.33), and substance abuse beta=1.94; 95% CI 0.180, 3.702).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings identified sex-based differences in medical resource utilization. These include kidney failure for men and heart failure for women. Increased prevalence of comorbidities in people living long with HIV has the potential to overburden global health systems. The development of narrower HIV phenotypes and aging-related comorbidity phenotypes with greater clinical validity will support intervention efficacy.
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