AIDS. 16(12):1663-1671, AUGUST 16TH, 2002

PMID: 12172088

Issn Print: 0269-9370

Publication Date: August 16th, 2002


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Changes in the cause of death among HIV positive subjects across Europe: results from the EuroSIDA study

A. Mocroft;R. Brettle;O. Kirk;A. Blaxhult;J. Parkin;F. Antunes;P. Francioli;A. d'Arminio Monforte;Z. Fox;J. Lundgren;

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Abstract

ObjectivesThe causes of death among HIV-positive patients may have changed since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We investigated these changes, patients who died without an AIDS diagnosis and factors relating to pre-AIDS deaths.MethodsAnalyses of 1826 deaths among EuroSIDA patients, an observational study of 8556 patients. Incidence rates of pre-AIDS deaths were compared to overall rates. Factors relating to pre-AIDS deaths were identified using Cox regression.ResultsDeath rates declined from 15.6 to 2.7 per 100 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) between 1994 and 2001. Pre-AIDS incidence declined from 2.4 to 1.1 per 100 PYFU. The ratio of overall to pre-AIDS deaths peaked in 1996 at 8.4 and dropped to < 3 after 1998. The adjusted odds of dying following one AIDS defining event (ADE) increased yearly (odds ratio, 1.53;P < 0.001), conversely the odds of dying following three or more ADE decreased yearly (odds ratio, 0.79;P < 0.001). The proportion of deaths that followed an HIV-related disease decreased by 23% annually; in contrast there was a 32% yearly increase in the proportion of deaths due to known causes other than HIV-related or suicides. Injecting drug users (IDU) were significantly more likely to die before an ADE than homosexuals (relative hazard, 2.97;P < 0.0001) and patients from northern/eastern Europe (relative hazard, 2.01;P < 0.0001) were more likely to die pre-AIDS than southern patients.ConclusionsThe proportion of pre-AIDS deaths increased from 1994 to 2001; however, the incidence of pre-AIDS deaths and deaths overall declined. IDU and subjects from northern/eastern Europe had an increased risk of pre-AIDS death. HIV-positive patients live longer therefore it is essential to continue to monitor all causes of mortality to identify changes.

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