Hospitalization Patterns and Outcomes for HIV-Infected Individuals
Summary
Hospitalisation rates among people living with HIV remain substantial despite widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale-up, reflecting a complex interplay of late presentation, treatment interruptions and co-morbid conditions. In high-income settings, non-AIDS illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, renal impairment and malignancies now account for a growing share of admissions, whereas in low- and middle-income countries opportunistic infections—particularly tuberculosis—continue to dominate early hospital episodes. Mortality risk during and after hospital stays remains elevated in individuals who have recently initiated ART or who present with advanced immunosuppression, low haemoglobin or impaired renal function. Variations in admission diagnoses and in-hospital outcomes are evident across regions, influenced by local ART coverage, diagnostic capacity and health-system factors such as linkage to care and inpatient protocols. Readmission rates are high among survivors, underlining gaps in discharge planning and follow-up. Emerging evidence underscores that timely HIV testing, rapid ART initiation, systematic screening for opportunistic infections and targeted interventions to support adherence can reduce both length of stay and in-hospital mortality. Taken together, these findings highlight the continuing burden of HIV-related hospital care worldwide and point to integrated strategies—spanning prevention, inpatient management and post-discharge support—that are essential for improving patient outcomes and optimising resource use.
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Hospitalization Patterns and Outcomes for HIV-Infected Individuals publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hospitalization patterns and outcomes for hiv-infected individuals across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Antiretroviral therapy (ART): Use of combination antiviral drugs to suppress HIV replication and improve immune function.
AIDS-defining illness: An infection or malignancy that signifies severe immunosuppression in HIV-infected individuals.
Opportunistic infection: An infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of weakened immunity.
In-hospital mortality: The proportion of patients who die during a hospital admission.
CD4 T-cell count: A measure of immune system health reflecting the number of CD4-positive lymphocytes per microlitre of blood.
References
- Causes of hospitalization and predictors of in-hospital mortality among people living with HIV in Sicily-Italy between 2010 and 2021. Journal of Infection and Public Health (2023).
- Interventions to reduce deaths in people living with HIV admitted to hospital in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. PLOS Global Public Health (2023).
- Inpatient mortality rates during an era of increased access to HIV testing and ART: A prospective observational study in Lilongwe, Malawi. PLOS ONE (2018).
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