Linkage to care of patients living with HIV/ AIDS in a reference hospital of Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
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Background: Linkage is the second step in the HIV
care continuum and can be defined as the first clinic
visit after diagnosis to an outpatient provider with prescribing privileges in an HIV care setting. Linkage is
essential to assess patient health, provide access to
antiretroviral therapy (ART), as well as prevention
and care interventions.
Objectives: To describe the linkage profile and the
sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients under care in public hospital specialized in HIV/
AIDS care in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of 208 HIV-infected
adults linked between January and December 2015 to
a reference hospital (Hospital Eduardo de Menezes) which is specialized in inpatient and outpatient care of
infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis, AIDS and
leprosy. Linkage was defined as the first outpatient
visit to this service after HIV diagnosis, assessed
through patients’ medical records.
Results: Most patients (77%) were linked to care
within 90 days of diagnosis. The mean linkage time
was 138 ± 37 days. Most patients were male (78%),
with a mean age of 39.3 ± 11.9 years old and median
of 38 years old, non-white skin color (76%), unmarried (71%), residents of Belo Horizonte (70%) and
had used tobacco (83%), alcohol (60%) and illicit
drugs (43%) at least once in lifetime. Half of patients
had eight or less years of schooling (51%), had children (52%) and had a job (52%). More than half of patients had an AIDS-defining clinical condition at the
time of linkage (56%).
Conclusions: The results show a high prevalence of
linkage with late diagnosis, which may lead to worse
prognosis and higher costs with treatment. A better understanding on how HIV-infected people use outpatient and inpatient care is essencial to improve care
assessment and provision.
Abstract
Assunto
HIV, AIDS, Pacientes, Terapia antirretroviral
Palavras-chave
HIV, AIDS, Pacientes, Terapia antirretroviral
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Endereço externo
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pds.4275