Yue T, Zhang P, Hao Y, He J, Zheng J, De Clercq E, Li G, Huang Y, Zheng F. Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of HIV Infection in South-Central China: A Retrospective Study From 2003 to 2018.
Front Public Health 2022;
10:902537. [PMID:
35757651 PMCID:
PMC9218543 DOI:
10.3389/fpubh.2022.902537]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
HIV epidemiology in South-Central China is rarely reported. This study aims to characterize epidemiological and clinical features of HIV-infected patients in Hunan Province, located in South-Central China, for better management of HIV infections.
Methods
This retrospective study retrieved multi-center records of laboratory-confirmed HIV-infected patients in Hunan province. Information on HIV-associated mortality and antiretroviral therapies was also collected.
Results
Among 34,297 patients diagnosed with HIV infections from 2003 to 2018, 73.9% were males, 41.3% were older adults (≥50 years), and 71.2% were infected by heterosexual transmission. Despite a slow growth of new HIV infections in the overall population, annual percentages of HIV infections increased in older males (85.3% through heterosexual transmission) and young patients <30 years (39.9% through homosexual transmission). At baseline, serum levels of CD4+ T-cell counts were lower in older adults (191.0 cells/μl) than in young patients (294.6 cells/μl, p-value < 0.0001). A large proportion (47.2%, N = 16,165) of HIV-infected patients had advanced HIV disease (CD4+ T-cell counts < 200 cells/μl) from 2003 to 2018. All-cause mortality (57.0% due to AIDS-related illnesses) was reported among 4411 HIV-infected patients, including 2619 older adults. The 10-year survival rate was significantly lower in elderly males than in other patients (59.0 vs. 78.4%, p-value < 0.05).
Conclusions
Elderly males are prone to HIV infections with a high risk of HIV-associated fatality. Our findings support early prevention and critical care for elderly populations to control HIV infections.
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